EDO3910 - New Cemetery, Poundbury, Dorchester; Excavation Area 2

Wessex Archaeology undertook an archaeological excavation on land adjacent to Poundbury Road, Dorchester to be used as a new cemetery. Two areas, totalling c. 570 m2 were excavated. Area 2 measured c. 27m x 17m, and was positioned to explore a confirmed ditch intersection to improve understanding of the prehistoric field system revealed during the evaluation in 1997. No further evidence for the date of the well-defined ditched field system was recovered during the excavation, although a Bronze Age date still seems likely. Stakeholes found in the base of the ditches cannot be paralleled in the immediate area but probably represent a fence constructed within the ditch itself. The presence of two small pits in the northeast corner of Area 2 may indicate the presence of further settlement activity in this area beyond the limits of the present excavation.