Monument record MDO18281 - Land West of Poundbury Farm; prehistoric chalk pit?

A large feature was partially exposed and excavated in the western part of evaluation Trench 17, excavated by Wessex Archaeology in 2001 (1) (2). A few sherds of Roman pottery were recovered from the upper fill, but the original function and date of this feature remain in doub. It may have been a later prehistoric or Roman chalk pit, dug to extract flint to marl the fields.

A large parallel-sided feature, about 11m wider and over 1.2m deep was partially exposed and excavated in the southern part of evaluation Trench 17, excavated by Wessex Archaeology in 2001 (1) (2). The feature was filled with layers of homogenous silty clay, with a few charcoal flecks and three sherds of Roman pottery in its upper fill. The original function and date of this feature remain in doubt, but it may have been a later prehistoric or Roman chalk pit, dug to extract flint to marl the fields.

<1> Gardiner, J, 2003, Dorchester, Land to the West and South-West of Poundbury Farm, 2000-2001. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeology Society, 156 (Article in serial). SDO9530.

<2> Dagless, N, 2001, Land to the West of Poundbury Farm, Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Excavation. (Unpublished document). SDO9532.

Record last edited

Sep 25 2006 5:34AM