A small area in Field F had still to be worked, badgers had once had a sett there and this delayed topsoil stripping. The area of prehistoric activity uncovered the previous summer, was extended. A ring of postholes was excavated together with a burnt heathstone- filled ditch and a complete pot, all dating to the Middle Bronze Age.

Topsoil, which had been stored at the edge of Field C since 1994, was removed revealing further Middle Bronze Age features including ditches and a 'burnt' area, interpreted as a pottery production site.

Field G lay at the southern extremity of the site, and once again, when the topsoil was stripped it was apparent that many features were present. Two pits produced Early Bronze Age material with a variety of Beaker pottery styles. One of the pits was of particular interest producing overfired and distorted pottery, which were possible 'wasters'. A ceramic 'pulley object' was a rare and enigmatic find; such articles are generally associated with burials and are not found on domestic sites.

Excitement was generated when a complete Late Bronze Age gouge was discovered in a small heathstone-filled pit. This bronze woodworking tool had been placed, handle down in the ground and incredibly some of the wood survived because the copper in the bronze had acted as a preservative. It is possible that this was a votive deposit made at a time of climatic deterioration and general difficulties.

Features, which were obviously associated with small-scale industrial activity, were abundant. The fills contained burnt heathstone, burnt flint, limestone, mudstone and shale. Charcoal pits continued - 89 were excavated during the season and there was good evidence by now of the use of this type of feature from the Middle Bronze Age to the end of the Roman period.

Excavators and Company alike were delighted to receive the 'Dorset Archaeology Award'. It was a spur to sustain the enthusiasm and continue the effort that would be needed to complete the site work, which was now projected to continue into the early years of the next century.

Those involved:

• Bardon Aggregates Doug Barrowman (Area Manager), Ian Lanyon (Estates Manager), Don Cawthera (Warmwell Manager), Peter Mole and Peter Stone (Quarry Managers)
• W&DA&LHS & Other Volunteers Lilian Ladle, Carol O'Hara, Janet Bartlet, Phil and Marian Roberts, Hilary Stanier
• Work Experience Henry Blogg, Verity Bullen, Oliver Singleton
• Undergraduate Student Placements Shanon Baker, Ian Walker, Sharon Fletcher, David Carr, David Moran, Brett Weaver (Bournemouth University), Sara Graham, Christine Smith (King Alfred's College), James Taylor (Exeter University)
• Post-Graduate Students Debbie Day (Oxford University), Sarah Graham (Bournemouth University), Adrian Hadley (Leicester University)
• Metal Detectorists Ken Wheatley, John Hunter
• Consultant Peter Cox (AC archaeology)
• Advisor Ann Woodward (Birmingham University)