Monument record MDO18195 - Roman pit, 1 Acland Road, Dorchester

A large pit, probably a cess pit, was found in 2004, during observations by Terrain Archaeology at 1 Acland Road, Dorchester. It was not fully exposed or excavated. The finds recovered suggest that it was filled in during the 2nd century AD. It was siimilar to a series of large square cess pits of 1st-2nd century date found on the adjacent Greyhound Yard site, excavated by Wessex Archaeology in 1984.

Partially exposed and excavated as part of a watching brief undertaken by Terrain Archaeology, during the construction of an extension to the rear of 1 Acland Road, Dorchester, in April 2004.(1) (2)

A single Roman pit was partially revealed in the northern end of the footings trench. Only the southern edge of this pit was exposed and only part of the upper layer of this pit was revealed. It was over two metres long and over 0.8 m deep. The upper fill was dark brown soil containing a large quantity of Roman roof tile with mortar adhering, frequent red burnt flecks, charcoal flecks, burnt flint and a small quantity of 2nd century AD Roman pottery.(1)

This pit was similar to a series of large square cess pits of late 1st and 2nd century date found at the adjacent Greyhound Yard site excavated by Wessex Archaeology in 1984 (3). These were located in the back of the properties fronting on to the northern frontage of the Greyhound Yard Insula. The pit found at 1 Acland Road was in a similar position, but slightly closer to the north frontage. It would also be very close to the projected edge of the Roman street defining the east side of the insula, which would suggest there was not a building on the east frontage in the NE corner of this insula, at this date.

<1> Bellamy, P, 2004, Extension to Citizen’s Advice Bureau, 1 Acland Road, Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Observations and Recording, April 2004 (Unpublished document). SDO9491.

<2> Bellamy, P S, 2004, Dorchester, 1 Acland Road. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeology Society (Article in serial). SDO9492.

<3> Woodward, P J , Davies, S M , and Graham, A H, 1993, Excavations at the Old Methodist Chapel and Greyhound Yard, Dorchester, 1981-1984 (Monograph). SDO9411.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:27PM