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Steamer Point Excavation
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Background
 | TCA members working on the Council’s Nature Reserve at Steamer Point noticed a linear raised ground ridge running through the Reserve. During May 2004, some members carried out a non-invasive Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey of this ridge with the permission of the Countryside Service Warden, Peter Holloway.
The survey results show several interesting features, with distinctive GPR reflections down to a depth of circa 2.0 metres below ground. Our initial interpretation is that these reflectors are more likely due to human activity.
An examination of local history indicates World War II military structures in this vicinity but an alternative explanation could be due to garden structures relating to Highcliffe Castle.
We obtained permission to carry out an excavation of this feature on Saturday 19 March and Sunday 20 March 2005. The dig was led by our Chairman, Mike Tizzard, supported by a small but enthusiastic band of our members.
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Results and Finds
 | We put in a trench across the ridge along the line of our GPR survey. The trench was 1.5m wide and excavated to a total depth of 0.8m below the top of the ridge. The total length of the section examined was about 6.5m.
We found no structure to the ridge to indicate the reason for its construction. It appeared to be an earthen bank with no metalling or layering which would indicate its use as a road. A small area of compacted stones was discovered which did not extend across the width of the trench, which, after investigation, we dismissed as a natural feature.
Finds were also quite sparse. Two fragments of clay pipe stem were discovered near the surface, and small fragments of brick and tile were found throughout. An interesting worked flint was also discovered.
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Conclusions
 | The excavation did not extend to the depth of the GPR anomalies. We concluded that these were probably due to natural gravel layers, since no evidence of structure to the ridge was discovered above the indicated depths of the anomalies.
The clay pipe stems would seem to indicate 18/19th century activity on the ridge, perhaps associated with the gardens of Highcliffe Castle.
In spite of the paucity of finds, those members taking part with little archaeological experience all agreed that this was a worthwhile training exercise in excavation techniques.
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