Monument record MDO18394 - Poundbury Late Roman Enclosure 1

A Late Roman enclosure was discovered during excavations on sites C, D, E and F during excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester in 1966-1979. Located at the north eastern limit of the main late Roman cemetery and largely respected by it, the enclosure was approximately L-shaped in plan. The north western arm defined by a series of ditches and the southern arm by a lynchet and the limit of the cemetery, and the eastern boundary by further ditches. A number of features were found within the enclosure. In the southeast part of the southern arm were the remains of a small Late Roman settlement comprising buildings R12-14 and associated features. Another small Late Roman settlement was found further north in the southern arm and comprised buildings R15-R17. A number of pits and ovens were found scattered within this enclosure. It is possible that enclosure 1 was an enlargement and extension to enclosure 2, dating to the late 3rd century AD.

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 Roman ditched enclosure 1 was excavated on Sites D, E, and F. It was one of four late Roman enclosures (1-4) found on the site. Only short lengths of the ditches forming this enclosure were exposed and the full size and shape is not known. This enclosure may have been L-shaped, running along the northern and eastern sides of enclosure 2. The line of eastern and southern sides are less certain. The western end of the western arm was on the same line as the western edge of enclosure 2 and was defined by a ditch [E467] and the northern side by ditches [E419, E431, E469, E443]. The ditches survived mainly as small shallow features, filled primarily with chalk rubble, withs some evidence for recutting. The boundaries of the southern arm are less distinct. The western and southern sides are probably marked by the edge of the main late Roman cemetery. The eastern side of the enclosure was not defined but may lie along the line of ditch [C191/C285] on Site C.

A number of features were found within the enclosure. In the southeast part of the southern arm were the remains of a small Late Roman settlement comprising buildings R12-14 and associated features. Another small Late Roman settlement was found further north in the southern arm and comprised buildings R15-R17. A number of pits and ovens were found scattered within this enclosure.

It is possible that enclosure 1 was an enlargement and extension to enclosure 2, dating to the late 3rd century AD.

<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 6:58AM