Monument record MDO18381 - Poundbury Late Iron Age Structure IA5

Late Iron Age Structure IA5 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 double post ring forming a structure about 6.7m in diameter. A small pit on the south east side of the terrace may have contained hearth debris. Another pit to the northwest may have been associated with this house. It contained a mid 1st century AD brooch. Round house IA5, together with the smaller round house IA10 and associated pits,formed the final phase of Late Iron Age unenclosed settlement in this area.

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 IA5, was excavated in the northern end of the site on site E, on the slopes to the east of Poundbury camp. Round house IA5 was terraced into the hill slope and consisted of the remains of a large double post ring round house with a diameter of 6.7m. The fill of the terrace sealing this structure contained exclusively Durotrigian pottery.

Round House IA5 cut the earlier Late Iron Age round house IA4.

On the southeast side of the terrace, immediately to the south of round house IA5, was a small pit [E906], which contained burnt clay debris perhaps from a hearth. Another pit [E563] to the northwest of IA5 may also be associated with this round house. It contained a brooch of 1st century AD date.

Round house IA5, together with the smaller round house IA10 and associated pits,formed the final phase of Late Iron Age unenclosed settlement in this area.

<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