Monument record MDO18584 - Alington Avenue Roman Structure 1905

Evidence for a Roman structure was discovered during excavations at Alington Avenue. About 12m east of building [2126] was a vertical sided slot, 16m long and 0.65m wide, with a flat base and varying in depth from 0.2-0.3m., which may have been part of another structure or enclosure. It contained fragments of limestone roof tiles, mortar and limestone rubble fragments [1905]. Hearth or drier [3754] was set into the top of this slot. The only dating evidence was a small quantity of 3rd century pottery.

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.

About 12m east of building [2126] was a vertical sided slot, 16m long and 0.65m wide, with a flat base and varying in depth from 0.2-0.3m [1905], which may have been part of another structure or enclosure. It contained fragments of limestone roof tiles, mortar and limestone rubble fragments [1905]. Hearth or drier [3754] was set into the top of this slot. The only dating evidence was a small quantity of 3rd century pottery.

<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