SDO14619 - Land at Hurn Quarry, Christchurch, Dorset. Geophysical Survey Report.

‘In October 2015 Wardell Armstrong Archaeology (WAA) undertook a geophysical survey of land at Hurn Quarry, Christchurch, Dorset. The survey was undertaken for Trustees Viscount Fitzharris 1981 Settlement, to provide information in relation to a proposed quarry extension. An archaeology and cultural heritage assessment has been undertaken of the proposed development area by Wardell Armstrong LLP, which has identified that there is the potential for archaeological remains to survive at the site. Previous archaeological work to the east of the proposed quarry extension has revealed a series of archaeological features, believed to relate to Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement activity. The objective of the geophysical surveys was therefore 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. Concentrations of small discrete dipolar magnetic anomalies were detected across the whole of the study area, which may be due to waste material present in the topsoil, or geological conditions. A number of weak linear magnetic anomalies were detected, which are interpreted as land drains or agricultural features. A modern service pipe was also detected.’