EDO6585 - Former Olds Garage, 55-59 Bridport Road, Dorchester; excavation 2008

An archaeological excavation and watching brief were commissioned by Sherborne Land Ltd prior to redevelopment of the site. This was the final stage of a programme of archaeological works. There were two elements: excavation and recording of a burial ground and monitoring and recording of mainly post-medieval deposits and features elsewhere on the site. The removal of the remains of the former garage and prior steam laundry was monitored. The initlal excavation was undertaking using a 360 degree toothless bucket to the level of the interment followed by hand cleaning of individual and intercutting graves. The programme of work produced evidence of activity from the Neolithic period onwards although only the late Roman/post Roman and post-medieval/modern periods produced any substantive remains. The latter included a row of eight small pits and a possible hollow way to the south of the site. The former may have been tree boles and the latter part of the original road. Only a part of the cemetery was exposed during the course of the work and no firm conclusions were drawn about its extent, layout or the number of graves contained within it. However, it appeared to contain both sinuous north-south aligned columns of burials as well as a tight cluster of burials, where the intercutting of graves and disturbance of primary burials is common. None of the graves contained evidence for wooden coffins, either directly in the form of nails or brackets, or indirectly as soil stains. Stone or lead coffins were also absent, as were plaster burials. However, over half of the graves exhibited some form of stone lining, ranging from carefully placed limestone slabs or flint nodules at the sides or ends of the graves to full cist type burials. There was no indication that any of the burials were accompanied by artefacts, such as coins, pottery vessels or personal adornments, or by offerings of food. Likewise no hobnails were recovered to indicate burial with footwear. The few artefacts that were recovered were all likely to be residual and incorporated into the graves during their excavation and backfilling. The lack of artefacts from the graves and the absence of radiocarbon dates for the burials, precluded any definitive dating for the burials – although the location of the cemetery alongside the Roman road, its proximity to the west gate of the Roman town, and the mode of burial all suggest a late Roman date. However, comparisons with other cemeteries in the region suggest that an immediately post-Roman date might be more appropriate. One further burial was also recorded, on a different alignment to the other graves. This was accompanied by two iron knife blades of probable 5th -8th century date and was thought to represent a later intrusion into the cemetery. A glass beaker of 6th/7th century date had been inserted into the top fill of one of the graves. There was no evidence to associate this with any of the burials, however it suggested a terminus ante quem for at least part of the cemetery. The cemetery was located over a penannular ring ditch of probable Neolithic date - possibly the remains of either a small round barrow or a hengiform monument.