Monument record MDO18107 - Greyhound Yard prehistoric pit 4695

An isolated pit, stratigraphically earlier than the ramp for post-pit 4540 of the Late Neolithic Timber Monument found at the Greyhound Yard excavations in 1984. Potentially the earliest feature found on the site.

Found during the excavations carried out by Wessex Archaeology in 1984 prior to the redevelopment of the area of the former Greyhound Yard. (1) The results of the excavation were published together with the results of the adjacent Old Methodist Chapel excavations. (2) The numbers in square brackets below are context and feature numbers used in the published report (2).

An irregular basin-shaped pit 0.5 m deep filled with silty clay with chalk and flint was found in the central part of the excavation area. It lay just west of the Late Neolithic timber monument and was partially sealed below the ramp for post-pit 4540. This was an isolated feature, possibly the earliest feature on the Greyhound Yard site. No dating evidence was recovered but it is stratigraphically earlier than the Late Neolithic Timber Monument.

Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Dorchester, Durnovaria: Excavations in the town centre at Greyhound Yard, and the Old Methodist Chapel (1982-1984): Interim and introductory notes to the current excavations (Unpublished document). SDO9435.

Wessex Archaeology, 1984, Greyhound Yard, Dorchester excavation archive (Excavation archive). SDO9456.

<1> Woodward, P J , Davies, S M , and Graham, A H, 1984, Excavations at the Greyhound Yard Car Park, Dorchester, 1984, 99-106 (Article in serial). SDO9437.

<2> Woodward, P J , Davies, S M , and Graham, A H, 1993, Excavations at the Old Methodist Chapel and Greyhound Yard, Dorchester, 1981-1984, 23 (Monograph). SDO9411.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:26PM