Monument record MDO18383 - Old Market Car Park, Dorchester; linear feature

A large, apparently linear, feature was exposed during observations along the line of the re-aligned Acland Road, Dorchester undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in April 1985. It was aligned roughly NE-SW and appears to be situated just to the north of the Roman rampart. It seems likely that this feature is part of the same ditch observed during a watching brief along Acland Road undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 1990. The function and date of this feature is unclear. Its size and location might suggest that it is associated with the Roman defences, but its fill may indicate a pre-Roman date.

A large, apparently linear, feature was exposed during observations along the line of the re-aligned Acland Road, Dorchester undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in April 1985. It was aligned roughly NE-SW and appears to be situated just to the north of the Roman rampart. Only the uppermost 1m of deposits were removed, revealing a thin band of Roman occupation debris (including samian pottery, oyster shell, etc) which overlay a light brown clay loam fill with occasional charcoal flecks. The published note states that this feature is 13m wide (1), though a plan in the field records suggests it is much smaller (perhaps in the order of 4-5m across). The location of this ditch as recorded in the archive (2) is further north than the position indicated on the published plan (1).

It seems likely that this feature is part of the same ditch observed during a watching brief along Acland Road undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 1990 (3). The function and date of this feature is unclear. Its size and location might suggest that it is associated with the Roman defences, but its fill may indicate a pre-Roman date.

<1> Batchelor, D, Speller, K , Pearce, P and Woodward, P J, 1985, Excavations and observations in the vicinity of Acland Road, the Old Market car park and South Walks, Dorchester. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 116-118 (Article in serial). SDO9675.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 1984-1985, Old Market Car Park, South Walks and Acland Road watching brief (Excavation archive). SDO10038.

<3> Adam, N J, 1990, Acland Road Sewer Main Watching Brief, October 1990 (Unpublished document). SDO9851.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:29PM