Monument record MDO18386 - Poundbury Late Iron Age Unenclosed Settlement

A Late Iron Age unenclosed settlement was found on the slopes to the east of Poundbury Camp during excavations at Poundbury. This Late Iron Age unenclosed settlement was a continuation from the earlier Middle Iron Age settlement. The remains of five separate round houses, together with associated pits, were identified and three main phases have been defined. The earliest and latest phase had a pair of houses and the middle phase had a single large house. The earliest Late Iron Age settlement phase comprised two adjacent small round houses (IA9 and IA2) and three associated pits. Both the round houses had more than one phase of construction and repair. The second Late Iron Age phase comprised a single large round house of Pimperne type (IA4), associated with four pits. In the final phase of the Late Iron Age settlement, one large Pimperne type house and one small round house were found (IA5 and IA10 respectively), together with two pits and two scoops. An infant burial was found beneath the floor of house IA10. The economy of the settlement was entirely agricultural, with sheep/goat the most numerous animal, but in terms of potential meat contribution, cattle and horse were the main source of meat. Pig was also important. The number of sheep/goat foetuses and neonate skeletons from this settlement indicates that the animals were reared on site and not simply imported for food. Horse may have had special significance, as shown by the apparently deliberate placing of two skulls in the weathered hollow above pit [E613]. Roe deer and small game were also present, indicating the importance of hunting. There was evidence for the cultivation of Spelt and free threshing wheat and barley, with wheat perhaps the major product of the agricultural economy. There was little artefactual evidence for the working of animal products on the settlement and almost a complete lack of metal objects.

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). Part of another ring ditch, possibly from another round house from this settlement, was found during observations of a pipeline in 1986 (2).

The Late Iron Age unenclosed settlement was a continuation from the earlier Middle Iron Age unenclosed settlement on the hillslope to the east of Poundbury Camp. The remains of five separate round houses, together with associated pits, were identified. Not all of these houses were in use at the same time and three separate phases have been defined, the earliest and latest having a pair of houses and the middle phase having a single large house.

The earliest Late Iron Age settlement phase comprised two adjacent round houses (IA9 and IA2) and three associated pits. Both the round houses had more than one phase of construction and repair.

The second Late Iron Age phase comprised a single large round house (IA4), associated with four pits.

In the final phase of the Late Iron Age settlement, one large and one small round house were found (IA5 and IA10 respectively), together with two pits and two scoops. An infant burial was found beneath the floor of house IA10.

The two largest houses (IA4 & IA5) were of the Pimperne type with a post ring set 1.2-1.5m in from the outer wall, creating a large central living area between 4.6-6.1m in diameter, and an outer concentric strip with limited access and space. The entrances were not identified but must have lain on the eastern or northeastern sides. The smaller housess (IA2, IA9 & IA10) were of ring-slot type with a diameter of about 4.5m.

The economy of the settlement was entirely agricultural, with sheep/goat the most numerous animal, but in terms of potential meat contribution, cattle and horse were the main source of meat. Pig was also important. The number of sheep/goat foetuses and neonate skeletons from this settlement indicates that the animals were reared on site and not simply imported for food. Horse may have had special significance, as shown by the apparently deliberate placing of two skulls in the weathered hollow above pit [E613]. Roe deer and small game were also present, indicating the importance of hunting. There was evidence for the cultivation of Spelt and free threshing wheat and barley, with wheat perhaps the major product of the agricultural economy. There was little artefactual evidence for the working of animal products on the settlement and almost a complete lack of metal objects.

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

<2> Davies, S M and Grieve, D, 1986, 'The Poundbury pipe-line: Archaeological Observations and Excavations', Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 81-88 (Article in serial). SDO9537.

<3> Sparey Green, C, 1966-1979, Poundbury, Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10096.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2010 6:57AM