SDO14329 - Summary Report on an Archaeological Excavation at White Horse Lane, Sutton Poyntz, Dorset

Following an archaeological evaluation in the grounds of the Springhead PH, Sutton Poyntz, Dorset (NGR SY 7071 8391) which uncovered evidence of Roman ditches and a possible Roman posthole, an archaeological excxavation was carried out in late July 1998, in advance of construction of a single house on the site. The contract for the evaluation [sic] was awarded to Southern Archaeological Services Ltd of Southampton. The site lies 75m to the east of the River Jordan, which has several Roman and Prehistoric find spots along its valley, the nearest being at the water treatment works in the village, where there is evidence of a late iron age settlement at the house known as Watermeadow, where late Iron Age inhumations have been found. The excavation revealed evidence from Prehistoric hill-wash to WWII groundworks. A large V-shaped drainage/boundary ditch of late Iron Age origins that had continued use into the Roman period ran east-west across the site parallel to White Horse Lane. Three or four Late Roman postholes were also recorded. Overlying the earlier features was a medieval drainage system and an early modern pond. During WWII the area had been used by the US Army and it appears that the bank fronting White Horse Lane was removed and then reconstructed. The underlying geology is Kimmeridge Clay and the site lies at 25.00m OD.