Monument record MDO18193 - Maiden Castle First School (Prince of Wales First School): Late Iron Age Enclosure 2

A rectilinear enclosure known from aerial photographs, was partially examined during the 1992 excavations at Maiden Castle First School undertaken by AC archaeology. It was only partially within the evaluation area and a short length of ditch on the south side of the enclosure was exposed and excavated. This ditch was not exposed on the projected line in other evaluation trenches, so its form remains in doubt. The interior was disturbed by 19th century quarry pits. A single pit was noted in the interior. A small quantity of Late Iron Age/Early Roman pottery was recovered.

The 1992 evaluation undertaken by AC archaeology on the Maiden Castle First School site (now the Prince of Wales First School), revealed the remains of an enclosure which lay partially within the evaluation area. The presence of this enclosure was known from aerial photographic evidence, which indicated a rectilinear enclosure with a wide entrance in the northeast. The below ground evidence for this enclosure exposed by the evaluation was very slight. It comprised a single ditch (16) 2.2m wide and about one metre deep with steeply sloping sides and a rounded base. There was a suggestion of at least one recut within this ditch and a small quantity of BB1 pottery was recovered.

The aerial photographic evidence suggested the enclosure ditch should also have been picked up in at least one other trench. Without further investigation, the form and nature of this enclosure remains in doubt. The exposed parts of the interior were disturbed by 19th century gravel quarry pits. The remains of a single, unexcavated, pit [23] was found in the interior.

Graham, A and Richards, J, 1992, Archaeological Evaluation of the Maiden Castle Road First School Site (Unpublished document). SDO9664.

Graham, A and Richards, J, 1992, Evaluation and Maiden Castle School, Dorchester, 233-234 (Article in serial). SDO9665.

AC Archaeology, 1992, Maiden Castle Road First School (Excavation archive). SDO9666.

Record last edited

Jul 10 2006 3:30AM