Monument record MDO18409 - Poundbury Late Roman Structure R17

Structure R16 was a large rectangular stone-footed structure found on Site D during the 1966-1979 excavations at Poundbury. It had been heavily robbed, but part of the all but the east wall could be traced. It may have been a rebuilding of an earlier rectangular timber building on the same site. It was a simple bipartite building, with poor quality plastered and painted walls and a stone tile roof. No floors were identified within the building, which may have just used the natural chalk surface. The smaller northern room of this building may have been a sleeping area and had no real trace of structures, but a number of infant burials were found buried in the floor. The larger southern room had a number of internal features including a number of slots, postholes and stone structures, forming the remains of a square box or bin, some wattle or hurdle structures, ovens and a U-shaped stone structure against the west wall, which may have been the remains of a fireplace and chimney. Building R16 was probably a domestic structure, perhaps with a sleeping area to the north. It was one of three buildings (together with R15 and R17) which lay together within the Late Roman Enclosure 1, probably forming part of a small settlement or farming unit. A large quantity of butchered pig bones were found in the destruction levels overlying this building, together with a small quantity of 3rd-4th century pottery and some mid-4th century coins. Structure R17 was a probably rectangular stone-footed building found on Site D, during the 1966-1979 excavations at Poundbury. Only a very small part of this badly disturbed building was exposed so its original size, shape and internal arrangements are not known. The remains comprised an E-W mortared flint footing with a slot running along the south side. A rough area of paving was found to the south and a small pit containing carbonised material was found further south. A large quantity of ash and charcoal was found within the structure indicating there was probably a hearth, oven or furnace within it. This structure had 3rd-4th century AD finds associated with it. Building R17 was one of three buildings (together with R15 and R16) which lay together within the Late Roman Enclosure 1, probably forming part of a small settlement or farming unit.

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 reports and archive (1)(2).

Structure R17 was a probably rectangular stone-footed building found on Site D. Only a very small part of this badly disturbed building was exposed so its original size, shape and internal arrangements are not known. The remains comprised an E-W mortared flint footing with a slot running along the south side. A rough area of paving was found to the south and a small pit containing carbonised material was found further south. The fill of the slot contained quantities of ash and dark charcoaly soil was found above the stone paving. The slot along the inside of the wall of R17 may indicate that it was a similar structure to R16. The amount of ash and charcoal found within the structure indicates that there was probably a hearth, oven or furnace within the building. The rubble layer overlying the remains of this building contained a lot of burnt material. Finds associated with this building included 4th century AD pottery (including Oxfordshire colour coated ware decorated with an unusual saltire cross and rosette stamps) and late 3rd-4th century AD coins.

Building R17 was one of three buildings (together with R15 and R16) which lay together within the Late Roman Enclosure 1, probably forming part of a small settlement or farming unit.

<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

Mar 5 2007 5:05AM