EDO4262 - The White Hart, High East Street, Dorchester

ASI Heritage Consultants conducted an archaeological evaluation in advance of proposed redevelopment of the site of The White Hart public house in Dorchester, during May 2004. Three machine excavated trial trenches located within the forecourt and enclosed rear yard revealed extensive modern and post-medieval disturbance in the SE corner of the site and extensive modern services across the rest of the site to a depth of 0.5m. Between and below this disturbance, stratigraphically complex deposits and structures of Roman and Post-medieval date survived. Some of these may be connected with the foundation of the Roman town, such as mortar mixers and possible road surfaces. These are interleaved with well stratified soils including a palaeosol and a possible alluvial flood deposit. Only small quantities of artefacts were recovered suggesting that the site was not close to areas of intensive activity.