Monument record MDO18322 - Later Roman pits, WDDC car park, Colliton Street, Dorchester

Three pits, possibly dating to the later Roman period were found during a watching brief carried out by Terrain Archaeology in 2000 during the replacement of a retaining wall. The pits were found close together in the central part of the site and were distinguished from the earlier Roman pits by the dark colour of their fills. Without further investigation or exposure of the archaeology in this area, it is difficult to be certain of the activities and date range represented by these pits. It is likely that they are rubbish disposal pits in the rear part of a Roman property and all probably date to the 3rd-4th century.

Three pits, possibly dating to the later Roman period were found during a watching brief carried out by Terrain Archaeology in 2000 during the replacement of a retaining wall (1) (2). The numbers in square brackets are context numbers used in the report and archive (1).

The pits [113, 115, 119] were all found close together in the central part of the site and were distinguished from the earlier Roman pits by the dark colour of their fills. Two of the pits cut through an earlier Roman pit [116].

Pit [115] was a small rectangular pit which cut the edge of earlier Roman pit [116]. It was filled with dark reddish-brown soil containing frequent charcoal flecks. This pit was not excavated.

Pit [113] was a large rectangular pit with vertical sides which cut pits [115] and [116]. It was not bottomed but was filled with at least three layers of dark brown or dark reddish-brown soil, which produced pottery of 3rd-4th century AD date, together with some Roman tile and animal bone.

Pit [119] was a circular pit, largely destroyed by later activity. It was filled with dark brown silty clay and produced a single sherd of Roman coarseware. It was not excavated.

Without further investigation or exposure of the archaeology in this area, it is difficult to be certain of the activities and date range represented by these pits. It is likely that they are rubbish disposal pits in the rear part of a Roman property and all probably date to the 3rd-4th century.

<1> Bellamy, P, 2000, West Dorset District Council Car Park, Colliton Street, Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Observations (Unpublished document). SDO9517.

<2> Bellamy, P S, 2000, Dorchester, WDDC Car Park, Colliton Street. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 173 (Article in serial). SDO9518.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1431033 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:29PM