Monument record MDO18143 - Greyhound Yard, Roman enclosure 5542

On the western edge of the 1984 excavations at Greyhound Yard, to the west of Enclosure 5537 was an open area [5542], perhaps another enclosure in the central part of the insula. A number of features were found in this area, including traces of perhaps two timber buildings and a number of small slots, postholes, a pit and chalk surfaces.

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).

Area 5542 lay on the western edge of the excavations, to the west of Enclosure 5537, and south of the properties along the north frontage of the insula. This area was probably an open yard in the central part of the insula, but the remains in this area were poorly preserved and the extent of many of the layers and surfaces is not known. The relationship between this area and Enclosure 5537 is unclear and no defined boundary was recognised.

In the western part were the remains of a timber building [5502]. To the south of this building were a number of features which may be contemporary with it. These include a scatter of postholes and two shallow gullies which are parallel to and just south of the building.

A vertically-sided subrectangular pit [783], over 1.8m deep, cut through the northeast corner of building 5502. This pit was largely unexcavated, but may have been sealed by the 1st century AD chalk surfaces in this area.

The area was then covered by a chalk surface [3156] which sealed the remains of Building 5502. A small number of postholes were recorded cutting through this surface, which was sealed by another chalk surface, through which a number of postholes were cut. The chalk surfaces were sealed by a layer of chalky loam, through which a large number of postholes and a shallow gully were cut. This soil layer contained material of a mid 2nd century AD date, which may date the end of the use of the chalk surfaces in this area. There was little recognisable structure to the distribution of the postholes.

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, 49-50 (Monograph). SDO9411.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:27PM