Surrey Archaeological Society

Geophysical survey carried out by GeoQuest Associates as part of preliminary work prior to a proposed housing development. A number of weak anomalies were detected, although the only features identified with any confidence were a short section of silted ditch or river meander together with some areas of burning, and a possible section of bank and ditch.

A field survey, watching brief and excavation by J Perry of SutAS was undertaken in advance of sand extraction and close to a prehistoric and Roman site previously excavated by D Williams. The field survey and watching brief revealed quantities of Neolithic and Bronze Age struck flint, burnt flint and some Mesolithic struck flint. A small quantity of Bronze Age, Roman and medieval pottery was also recovered. These finds were spread over the whole field though there was a concentration of finds, particularly Bronze Age, at the highest point.

Monitoring by G Rapson of SyAS of pipeline works in and around Dorking revealed a number of finds and features, but most significantly, a cemetery containing fourteen skeletons at Ten Acre Field. The skeletons are of probable Saxon date, and three circular crop marks reported to exist at the other end of the field point to the presence of further, potentially older, activity on this hill top.

Excavation of a test pit by R Le Brocq as part of the Time Team `Big Dig’ reported finds of Neolithic and post-medieval date.

Evaluation by J Stevenson of ASE in advance of residential redevelopment involved the excavation of eight trenches. One revealed an undated tree bole; a second, two pits/postholes and a gully all of probable prehistoric date, and a grave of probable Anglo-Saxon date excavated in the 19th or early 20th century; a third, four small pits, three of prehistoric date, and one of Early/mid-Iron Age date, and two very large pits of later Iron Age date thought to be used for grain storage.

Metal detector survey under the direction of D Williams of SCC and A and D Graham of SyAS recovered metal objects of Roman, medieval and later date, and a single pottery sherd of possible Iron Age date. The survey shed no light on the interpretation of a circular enclosure identified on aerial photographs of the site. (Bulletin 369)

Evaluation by P Jones of SCAU in advance of the creation of a lake involved the excavation of eighteen trenches. The evaluation revealed no archaeological finds or features, but on-site observation and a map appraisal suggest the presence of a post-medieval building complex just outside the proposed lake area.

Evaluation by P Jones of SCAU on a site postulated to contain a section of Stane Street revealed no features, and only a small flint hammerstone was recovered from the subsoil

Excavation by A Hall of SyAS of a small section of the assumed line of Stane Street revealed its eastern edge. Report in SyAC 91, 276–9

Excavation of a test pit by B Fairs as part of the Time Team `Big Dig’ revealed finds presumably associated with the now demolished Milton Court Mill buildings that once existed on the site