EDO4109 - Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, Evaluation Trench F.

Wessex Archaeology carried out an evaluation of a Site proposed for housing development in November 1984. The development area lies on a gentle ridge between the Roman Town of Durnovaria and Mt. Pleasant, 1km SE of the Roman Town, on the south side of Alington Avenue, east of Fordington Farm. A total of nine evaluation trenches were excavated down to chalk bedrock with a 2m toothless bucket. The total area excavated was 800 square metres spread evenly across the 3.46 ha. field. Trench F , sited off the crest of the hill, in the northern corner of the site. At the eastern end of the trench a series shallow features, overlying a large re-cut Roman boundary ditch aligned SW-NE, was observed. This boundary ditch in turn overlies an earlier rectangular structure composed of shallow gullies and possible post-holes. A possible and associated hearth or kiln contained a quantity of burnt flint. A series of shallower linear cuts and gullies lay to the NW. The SW half of the trench was devoid of features.