ENN111191 - Ringstead Quarry, 2012 (Trial trench)

Site code: PC372B During January 2012 Phoenix Consulting Archaeology Ltd carried out an archaeological trench evaluation across the site of a proposed quarry to the south-east of Ringstead Grange Farm, The work was carried out on behalf of Mick George Ltd. Archaeological features were identified in 14 trenches. The majority of the identified archaeology was to the immediate south of a large boundary ditch that traversed the site on an NW-SE alignment. This was identified in trenches 12, 13, 15, 16 and 19. A ditch identified in trench 5 may have been a continuation of this feature, although it remains undated. Evidence for probable settlement enclosures were identified in trenches 13, 15, 17, 18, 21 and 22. The geophysical survey suggested that these were sub-rectangular in shape, although a circular feature was identified in trench 17. Several pits and ditches were also investigated in and around the enclosure arrangement, which are probably related. The pottery recovered from the excavated features suggests occupation during the early Iron Age period, with a possible abandonment in the middle Iron Age. Other artefacts recovered include animal bone, a single flint flake and some daub. The nature of the finds assemblage suggests a rural farming settlement characterised by rectangular and sub-circular enclosures, boundary ditches and probable hut circles. Outside of this main zone of activity very little archaeology was encountered. This confirmed the picture provided by the geophysical survey. A possible ring ditch (early Bronze Age?) was identified in trench 1 and undated ditches in trenches 9 and 29, the latter which related to a possible rectangular enclosure identified on the geophysical survey. [Information from OASIS form online]