Monument record MDO18459 - Middle Farm, Dorchester; Iron Age/Roman quarry pits

Six large pits, probably chalk pits, were found during the evaluation and excavation at Middle Farm undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 1990 and 1992. These were widely scattered and the largest was about 14m across and the deepest was 2.9m deep. They were generally ovoid in plan and were filled with homogeneous clay, which contained a few sherds of Late Iron Age and Roman pottery. hese pits are very similar to a number of other features of Late Iron Age or Roman date found across this area to the west of Dorchester and which are also thought to be chalk or marl pits.

Six large pits, probably chalk pits, were found during the evaluation and excavation at Middle Farm undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 1990 and 1992 (1) (2) (3). These were widely scattered with one in Trench 1, one in Trench 3, two in Trench 2 and two in Trenches F/G. The largest was about 14m across and the deepest was 2.9m deep. They were generally ovoid in plan and were filled with homogeneous clay, which contained a few sherds of Late Iron Age and Roman pottery. Pit 1056 at the west end of Trench 2 produced 9 hobnails, other iron nails and fragments of Roman tile.

Pit 52 in evaluation Trench F was sampled for molluscan evidence, which indicated that the feature was post-glacial in origin and was in a generally open landscape.

These pits are very similar to a number of other features of Late Iron Age/Roman date found across this area to the west of Dorchester and which are also thought to be chalk or marl pits.

<1> Butterworth, C , and Gibson, C, 2004, Neolithic Pits and a Bronze Age Field System at Middle Farm, Dorchester. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 15-25 (Article in serial). SDO9654.

<2> Smith, R J C, 1992, Middle Farm, Bridport Road, Dorchester. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 239 (Article in serial). SDO9655.

<3> Davies, S M, and Pearce, P, 1990, Middle Farm, Bridport Road, Dorchester. Archaeological Assessment Stage 2: Trial Trenching (Unpublished document). SDO9986.

Record last edited

Dec 11 2006 5:13AM