SDO12446 - Green Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset. An Archaeological Evaluation and an Assessment of the Results

Videotext Communications was commissioned by Channel 4 to carry out an archaeological evaluation on Green Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset (centred on SZ 006 866) as part of the Time Team television series. The archaeological evaluation comprised a geophysical survey and the excavation of three small trenches and five test pits. The trenches and test pits were located to examine geophysical anomalies and to test the results of Bournemouth University's previous surveys on the island. The work was undertaken over three days in July 2003. The evaluation produced no features or deposits of Early or Middle Iron Age date, the earliest features dating to the Late Iron Age. A number of ditches, a hearth base, a layer of burnt stone and charcoal and a possible buried land surface were excavated. The ditches may mark out enclosures, similar to those recorded in the Late Iron Age on Furzey Island and at Ower on the mainland. These Late Iron Age features were sealed below colluvium, resulting from agricultural activity in the west of the island. A further phase of Late Iron Age and Roman activity followed the deposition of colluvium. A wall, ditch, hearth and two post-holes were recorded. The wall may be part of a building or part of a revetment. The features were subsequently sealed below deposits of colluvium, predominantly containing material of Late Iron Age and Roman date. Small quantities of medieval material were also recovered, suggesting that some cultivation of the island was taking place at this time. There was evidence for industrial activity, specifically shale-working and iron smithing, in the Late Iron Age and into the Early Roman period. A small range of other items, such as the rotary quern, worked flint and iron nails may also have had an industrial purpose. These finds may also be associated with settlement, which is also suggested by the recovery of disturbed human remains, pottery and food remains. Imported finds comprised amphora and other imported pottery. Some raw material was also deliberately transported to the island, such as the Kimmeridge shale and a piece of unworked chalk. A tiny fragment of gold leaf was also recovered. The evaluation has produced useful information on the nature of Iron Age and Roman activity on Green Island and will augment the work of Bournemouth University's research project on Poole Harbour. The results of this evaluation will be made available to Bournemouth University, a copy of this report will be deposited with the Dorset Sites and Monuments Record and a note of the project published in the Dorset Proceedings.