Monument record MDO18580 - Alington Avenue Roman later enclosure system

Evidence for a Roman later enclosure system, was discovered during excavations at Alington Avenue. This was represented by several fragmentary lengths of angled ditches and at least one other smaller enclosure [4179] in the eastern part of the site, to the east of the D-shaped enclosure. The remains of this 3-sided rectangular enclosure comprised shallow and badly eroded gullies, with an entrance on its west side. The gullies had been badly plough-damaged. Another shallow ditch lay 5m to the west and parallel with the west side of the enclosure. The enclosure contained a well and an amorphous hollow and it may represent a stock pen. Several other lengths of ditch may be related to the enclosure on the basis of alignment. They may represent the last vestiges of a rectilinear field system to the east of the D-shaped enclosure, which remained a feature in the landscape.

Found during a series of archaeological evaluations and excavations conducted by Wessex Archaeology at Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, between 1984-1987. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph (DNHAS Monograph 15). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published reports (1).

The later enclosure system was represented by several fragmentary lengths of angled ditches and at least one other smaller enclosure [4179] in the eastern part of the site, to the east of the D-shaped enclosure. The remains of this 3-sided rectangular enclosure comprised shallow and badly eroded gullies [2856], [1172] &[2854], not generally more than 0.1m deep, with an entrance on its west side. The gullies had been badly plough-damaged and its stratigraphic relationship with other features to the east remains uncertain. Another shallow ditch [1181/2870] lay 5m to the west and parallel with the west side of the enclosure and with an entrance gap opposite that of the enclosure. It is not clear whether this represents an earlier extent of the enclosure or a later addition. The enclosure contained a well [2869] and an amorphous shallow hollow [2863] possibly formed through erosion caused by animals. The enclosure may represent a stock pen.

Several other lengths of ditch may be related to the enclosure on the basis of alignment. About 13m west of the enclosure was an L-shaped shallow ditch segment [2285], which cuts a small length of ditch [2879] on its west side. Another L-shaped fragment [2141/2513/2193] preserves the line of the later phases of the D-shaped enclosure, cutting the phase 3 eastern boundary. All of these ditches were very shallow and badly eroded and they may represent the last vestiges of a rectilinear field system to the east of the D-shaped enclosure, which remained a feature in the landscape.

The date of this boundary system is problematic, as there is little dating evidence available. Certain elements are later than the phase 3 D-shaped enclosure and the possible later extension, which in turn is later than building [1737]. Enclosure [4179] was cut by timber post building [1234] which is likely to be post-Roman in date and not later than the 11th century AD.

<1> Davies, S M, Bellamy, P S , Heaton, M J , and Woodward, P J, 2002, Excavations at Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, Dorset, 1984-87 (Monograph). SDO9565.

Record last edited

Dec 12 2018 5:46PM