Monument record MDO18379 - Poundbury Late Iron Age Structure IA2

Late Iron Age Structure IA2 was one of a number of Iron Age round houses found on the slopes to the east of Poundbury Camp during excavations at Poundbury. It comprised a ring slot forming a structure about 5.5m in diameter, which had been terraced into the slope. Three phases of ring slots were identified, suggesting at least three phases of construction and repair. No trace of internal structures or floor surfaces survived. Immediately to the northeast of round house IA2 was a pit containing Durotrigian pottery. Round house IA2, together with round house IA9 to the north and three associated pits formed the second phase of unenclosed settlement on this part of the site.

Found during the excavations directed by Christopher Sparey Green, for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, between 1966 and 1979 during development of the Grove Trading Estate on the eastern slopes of Poundbury Camp, Dorchester (1). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report and archive (1)(2).

The Late Iron Age round house, Structure IA2, was excavated in the northern end of the site on site E, on the slopes to the east of Poundbury camp. It had been terraced into the slope over the top of the former Middle Iron Age enclosure ditch. The terrace was an oval scoop 6.1m in diameter and up to 0.5m. From the number of ring slots visible on this platform, there were at least three phases of construction. These appeared to form part of a round house about 5.5m in diameter. No trace of internal structures or occupation levels survived within this house.

Round House IA2 cut the remains of the earlier round house IA3 and was cut by the later round house IA4.

Immediately to the northeast of round house IA2 was a pit [E960], which may be related to the house. It was of cylinder or beehive shape and was 2.9m deep and sherds of Durotrigian pottery were recovered from its fill.

Round house IA2, together with round house IA9 to the north and associated pits [E677], [E960] & [E922] formed the second phase of unenclosed settlement on this part of the site.

<1> Sparey Green, C, 1987, Excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset 1966-1982. Volume 1: The Settlements (Monograph). SDO9630.

<2> Sparey Green, C, 1966-1979, Poundbury, Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10096.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2010 6:57AM