EDO4572 - Henry Ling's Extension, Acland Road, Dorchester; observations and recording 1978

C J Sparey Green observed the foundation trenches of a new store for Henry Ling, Acland Road, Dorchester in December 1978. The trench for the east wall was recorded in detail, but the other wall trenches were only briefly viewed. The eastern side of the foundation trench for the east wall revealed layers of sand and gravel and flint. The western side of the trench displayed a completely different stratigraphy of dark occupation levels. This has been interpreted as the western edge of a N-S aligned Roman street with a ditch on the western side. Two distinct but successive road surfaces were discernable, and the upper road foundation contained unabraded late Roman pottery. The north, south and west footings trenches were either obscured or revealed only occupation levels.This area was subsequently excavated as part of the Greyhound Yard excavations in 1984. The archaeology was interpreted as a N-S aligned Roman metalled road running below Acland Road. Two distinct but succesive road surfaces were discernable, and the upper road foundation contained unabraded late Roman pottery.