EDO3759 - Former Hardye's School, Barnes Way, Dorchester; Trench 6

An archaeological field evaluation of former playing fields and land adjacent to the former Hardye’s School, Dorchester was conducted by AC archaeology during September and October 1996, in advance of development of the site for housing. A total of 14 machine-excavated trenches were dug, comprising an approximate 2.7% sample of the 7.88 ha of proposed development. Trench 6 was aligned approximately N-S, 135m long, with a short eastern extension near the southern end. It contained the continuation of an E-W aligned Romano-British field ditch that terminated within trench 5 to the west. It also contained an E-W aligned double ditched trackway at its southern end which continued across the site in trenches 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9. Further E-W aligned gullies of uncertain date were uncovered at the north and south ends. A couple of pit-like features may have been no more than tree holes.