SDO14023 - Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd, Littleton Solar Farm, Blandford St Mary, Dorset. Geophysical Survey Report

'Wardell Armstrong Archaeology have undertaken a geophysical survey of land at Littleton Solar Farm, Blandford St Mary, Dorset, at the request of Lightsource Renewable Energy Limited. The survey work was required to provide information to inform a proposed solar development at the site. The proposed devleopment area comprises two arable fields to the south of Blandford St Mary, to the south of Blandford Forum, in Dorset. The site is centred on Ordnance Survey grid reference ST 8840 0504 and measures approximately 22ha in total. The objective of the geophysical surveys was to determine the presence/absence, nature and extent of potential archaeological features within the study area, and the presence/absence of any known modern features within the survey area, which may affect the results. The geophysical survey recorded a series of agricultural features, interpreted as cultivation marks and land drains. Possible fluvial or geological fealtures were also detected. A number of possible soil-filled ditches were detected by the geophysical survey, which may represent part of an early field system. It is uncertain whether these relate to the post-medieval field system or an earlier period. It is possible that these features are of some archaeological significance, given that a Bronze Age field system has previously been recorded to the north of the site. A number of possible pits and possible ring ditch of unknown date have also been recorded at the site.'