Monument record MDO18401 - Poundbury, Late Roman Pits in Enclosure 1

A scattered group of eight Late Roman pits was found within Late Roman enclosure 1 during the 1966-79 excavations at Poundbury, on Sites D, E, and F. The majority of the pits lay to the west and north of the Late Roman buildings R15, R16 and R17 and may have been associated with this small settlement. The pits were rectangular or oval in shape and contained chalk rubble fills in the lower part and soil with chalk rubble lenses in the upper part. Three pits contained significant quantities of cess and one of these may have had a timber lining. A number of complete or near complete animal skeletons were found buried in these pits, including lambs, a cat, a fighting cock, and several dogs. Some disarticulated human remains, probably from a disturbed grave were recovered from one pit. These pits appear to have been filled up during the 3rd and 4th centuries 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).

A scattered group of eight Late Roman pits [D221, D222, D271, D274, D313, D284, E455, F1037] was found within Late Roman enclosure 1, the majority to the west and north of the Late Roman buildings R15, R16 and R17 and they may have been associated with this small settlement. Five pits were square or sub-rectangular in shape [D221, D222, D271, D274, F1037], varying in size from 1.2m x 0.9m x 0.6m deep [D222] to 3.2m x 2.1m x 4.4m deep [D274]. Three were circular or oval [D284, D313, E455], ranging in size from 2.1m by 2.4m across and 1.5m deep [ E455] to 3.3m diameter and over 1.8m deep [D284].

The pits were mainly filled with chalk rubble in the lower part and soil with some chalky lenses in the upper part. Pits [D221], [D222], and [D274] contained deposits of greenish-brown soil, probably derived from cess. Pit [D221] may have had a timber lining, as the chalk rubble fill was confined to the edges of the pit, with cess deposits filling the centre. The upper parts of pits [D274], [D284], & [F1037] had weathered into a conical profile and there was some evidence for possible re-cutting and periodic cleaning out.

Pit [D274] contained a complete BB1 everted rim jar, presumably accidently dropped into the cess, together with a copper alloy ring, later 3rd and early 4th century pottery, the complete or part complete skeletons of two newborn or neonatal lambs, a cat and a fighting cock. Pit [D222] contained the partial skeleton of a dog. Pit [E455] had the complete skeleton of a dog in the upper part, as well as disarticulated human remains, probably from a disturbed grave. Charred grain from pit [E455] was derived from debris from the cleaning of a crop and included spelt wheat, barley and weed seeds. Pit [D284] lay adjacent to building R16 and contained large quantities of late 3rd-early 4th century pottery. The top of this pit was filled with shattered lias roof tiles and wall plaster, presumably from the demolition of structure R16. Pit [D313] lay adjacent to pit [D284] and was the only other pit to contain significant quantities of building material in its fill. Pit [D271] was a large shallow hollow containing traces of a limestone flint and mortar structure, adjacent to an area of burning so may have been the remains of an oven, rather than a pit.

[D271] contained 2nd-3rd century AD pottery and may have been the earliest of these features. Pit [E455] may also have been filled during the 3rd century AD. The remainder of the pits contained later 3rd and 4th century AD finds.

<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

Aug 3 2010 5:25PM