Monument record MDO18583 - Alington Avenue Roman Pits within D-shaped Enclosure

Evidence for Roman pits within the D-shaped enclosure was discovered during excavations at Alington Avenue. 7 pits or wells were recorded within the D-shaped enclosure of varying shapes and dimensions. One [1791] appears to be a well. Two others [2144] and [2606] were square in plan with vertical sides and fully excavated to a depth of 2.2m and 3.3m respectively. Their functions are not certain but they were used a rubbish pits in their final phase. A complex of later pits truncated the upper fills of the well [1791] which was not fully excavated for safety reasons. These upper fills contained a 5th-7th century lead-glass pendant and a substantial quantity of late Roman pottery. The well was probably in use in the later phases of the D-shaped enclosure. It may have had an associated superstructure.

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).

Three buildings with stone footings were revealed; two within the D-shaped enclosure [459] & [2126] and one just outside its eastern side [1737]. In addition there were several short lengths of wall, which may have belonged to other structures. Internal features were rare and there was little evidence for specific function. Furthermore, a series of post-hole structure were revealed within the enclosure with little or no dating evidence. It has been suggested on morphological grounds that they are late or post-Roman in date but it is possible that some may be contemporary with the stone-footed structures.

7 pits or wells were recorded within the D-shaped enclosure of varying shapes and dimensions. One [1791] appears to be a well. Two others [2144] and [2606] were square in plan with vertical sides and fully excavated to a depth of 2.2m and 3.3m respectively. Their functions are not certain but they were used a rubbish pits in their final phase. A complex of later pits truncated the upper fills of the well [1791], which was not fully excavated for safety reasons. These upper fills contained a 5th-7th century lead-glass pendant and a substantial quantity of late Roman pottery. The well was probably in use in the later phases of the D-shaped enclosure. The well may have had an associated superstructure the remains of which seemed to comprise a stone lining 2.3m in diameter; most of the lining had been robbed away in the post-Roman period. The vertical shaft of [1791] was 1.1m towards the bottom, flaring out at the top to a diameter of 1.8m.

The two substantial square pits [2144] and [2601/6]. [2601] Was a later re-cut of [2606] and lay towards the D-shaped enclosure’s eastern boundary. Both were probably dug and used in the 1st phase of the enclosure’s history c. AD 100-150. The latest material from the pit was of mid-2nd century date and it was cut by a 3rd century grave. Cess like layers formed part of the fill of this pit containing a virtually complete 1st-2nd century BBW beaker. The pit is likely to have been a night soil disposal pit.

Pit [2144] lay just inside the later D-shaped enclosure, cutting the modification to the earliest phase of entrance. The pit produced a large quantity of pottery of mixed date but the latest material from the upper layers was 3rd-early 4th century. Its original function is uncertain and may have been used as a storage pit, functioning finally as a rubbish pit.

The only other pit worthy of note is [120] at the NE edge of the excavation in evaluation Trench E. This was a small sub-rectangular feature 0.8m x 0.6m across and only 0.15m deep. It contained an almost complete type 8 jar and a complete type 15 bowl, both typical of the 1st century BC- 1st century AD and probably date no later than 75 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