Monument record MDO18395 - Poundbury Late Roman Enclosure 2

A Late Roman enclosure, enclosure 2, was discovered on sites D and E during the 1966-1979 excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester. It was located on the site of and later occupied by the eastern end of the main late Roman cemetery and formed part of an enclosure system including three other enclosures and a drove way. Enclosure 2 was approximately rectangular in plan with its long axis aligned N-S and was bounded by ditches on its north, south and west sides and by a hedge or lynchet to the east. It was entirely free of internal features prior to its use as part of the late-Roman cemetery. Molluscan evidence suggests that it was in an open grassland environment. It was probably used as a stock enclosure.

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 elements of the late Roman rectangular enclosure, enclosure 2, were excavated on Sites D and E. It was one of four late Roman enclosures (1-4) found on the site. It was rectangular in shape with its long axis aligned N-S, with an area of about 0.19ha. The boundaries to the north, south and west were defined by ditches, but the eastern side was defined by a strip of open ground, perhaps originally marked by a hedge or lynchet. The ditches defining this enclosure were variable in profile and size, being much deeper to the south. The southern ditch [E3] was approximately 1.7m wide and 0.6m deep, with a lower chalk rubble fill and an upper fill which contained building debris and occupation material dating to the 2nd quarter of the 4th century. Aquatic molluscs suggested that the aqueduct had overflowed into this ditch at a point uphill. This ditch continued uphill but had original curved round to form a continuous boundary with the western ditch [E14], [E149] & [E201]. At its southern end [E14] this ditch was asymmetrical v-shaped in profile 1.68m wide and 0.61m deep and had been recut. It contained possible coffin preparation debris in its upper fill. Midway along its length the western boundary became more rounded and to the north it became progressively shallower with only a trace surviving in the NE corner.

In the southeast corner, a remnant of the ancient soil survived and molluscan evidence suggested the enclosure was in open grassland. No contemporary features were found within enclosure 2, which was probably a stock enclosure.

<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