SDO15292 - Lake Farm, Wimborne , Dorset: Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief Report (Scheduled Monument no 736)

"An archaeological evaluation and watching brief was understaken at Lake Farm, Wimborne Dorset for C.G. Pitcher & Son Ltd on behalf of Mr John George. Conditional Planning Persiion (08/31146/6) including an archaeological condition has been granted for the construction of an agricultural barn. The Site lies within an area defined as a Scheduled Monument (SM736), a 1st century Roman Military site, which contains a 16.8 hectare (vexillation) fort, although the Site itself lies outside the south east corner of the forts defensive ditch circuit. The fieldwork comprised a cross-shaped evaluation trench, within the footprint of the proposed barn. The evaluation revealed and confirmed the presence of roman features on the Site. At a depth of 0.8m below the current ground surface a substantial ditch was uncovered. Pottery, glass and metalwork was recovered from this feature dating to the mid 1st centuryAD/ early conquest period. The dating of this feature conformed to evidence gathered during the earlier investigations undertaken within the scheduled area. The evaluation has confirmed the presence of archaeological features on the site dating to the Roman period most probably associated with the Roman fort. Being within a Scheduled Monument these features qualify as being of national improtance and will be suitably militated within the development programme to ensure that the archaeological horizon/ features are preseerved in situ. An impact assessment of the proposed development on the archaeological remains within the Site has been set out demonstrating how preservation in-situ can be achieved.