Monument record MDO18285 - Land South-west of Poundbury Farm; Iron Age/ Roman quarry pits

Three large pits were revealed during the archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2001 and the subsequent excavation undertaken in 2005 by Wessex Archaeology, in advance of development of a field to the south of Bridport Road and north and east of the By-pass. All were found in the eastern part of the site and were over 4m across and probably at least 1.8m deep. They had silted up naturally and had Late Iron Age and Roman pottery in the upper fills. The function of these features in not clear, but their size and character suggest they may be quarry pits, perhaps to obtain chalk for marling the fields or similar.

Two large features (over 4m across) were revealed during the archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2001 by Wessex Archaeology, in advance of development of a field to the south of Bridport Road and north and east of the By-pass. These were found in Trenches 17 and 24 in the eastern part of the site (1). One of these, in Trench 24, was targeted for subsequent excavation and a third example was also found during the excavation.

Pit [15], initially discovered in evaluation Trench 24, was more fully explored by excavation area 1. It was roughly subrectangular in plan with steep sides and a flat base, measuring about five metres across and 1.7m deep. It was filled with silty clays and produced three sherds of Romano-British date (1 samian & 2 Black-burnished ware sherds).

Another subrectangular pit [111] was found about 60m to the north in excavation area 2, where it cut into a Middle Bronze Age ditch. This pit had steep sides and a flat base and measured 5m by 4m across and 1.3m deep. It was filled with silty clays and produced three small Iron Age sherds, a piece of copper alloy and a nail fragment.

The pit [1706] in evaluation trench 17 was not fully exposed or excavated, but was of a similar character. It had steep undercut sides and augering suggested it was at least 1.78m deep. There was some evidence to suggest there may have been stakeholes around the edge of this pit. It was filled with silty clays, probably the result of natural weathering and silting and a small quantity of Late Iron Age and Roman pottery was found in the upper fill.

The function of these features in not clear, but their size and character suggest they may be quarry pits, perhaps to obtain chalk for marling the fields or similar. These pits may date to the Iron Age or Roman period, judging from the material obtained from them. Pit [111] certainly post-dates the Middle Bronze Age on stratigraphic evidence. A number of similar features have been found during the evaluation and excavation of other areas in advance of the Poundbury development.

<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, 154 (Article in serial). SDO9530.

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

<3> Appleton, C, 2005, Poundbury Development, Phase II, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset. Archaeological Post-Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SDO9932.

Record last edited

Sep 29 2006 5:05AM