SWX8565 - Summary Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at Land Adjacent to 'Old Med', Southwell, Portland, Dorset.

Permission to build a bungalow and attached garage at land adjacent to ‘Old Med’ at Southwell on the Isle of Portland (NGR6855 7012) was granted to Mr. David Lynham subject to an archaeological watching brief being carried out during the groundworks for the foundations of the building. The contract for this was awarded to Southern Archaeological Services Ltd. of Southampton. A scattering of Mediaeval pottery dating from the 12th to the 16th Century, and Roman pottery dating from the 1st or 2nd Century to the 4th century was recovered from the cultivated topsoil. A single Mediaeval rubbish pit was observed at the northwest corner of the foundations. Finds include undiagnostic sherds of pottery, as well as cess, limpet shell, animal bone and hammerscale. At the south-eastern corner of the building three soakaways probably dating to the early part of this century were uncovered. The natural geology of the site is the Lower Portland Beds. The fieldwork took place between 9 and 11 October 1996.