Monument record MDO18652 - Library Site, Colliton Park, Dorchester; Linear Feature

A broad shallow linear cut was found running N-S in the western part of the excavations on the site of the new Dorset County Library, Colliton Park, Dorchester in 1961-63. There were many flints in the base of this cut and Road 1 was laid within the western half, but not on quite the same alignment. It was suggested by the excavators that this was a cut for a very wide road, but this is not the normal method of construction of roads in Dorchester and the road would be much wider than usual, so this interpretation is far from certain. It was the earliest feature found in the western half of the excavation trench and pre-dates Road 1, suggesting it is first century in date. It is similar to a wide flat linear cut found beneath the rampart to the north of the site in Colliton Park. The function of this feature must remain in doubt. A line of postholes were found running along the middle of this feature, to the east of Road 1, but is unclear if the two are related. The postholes may represent a later fence line.

A broad shallow linear cut was found running N-S in the western part of the excavations on the site of the new Dorset County Library, Colliton Park, Dorchester in 1961-63 (1) (2). It measured about 6.5m wide and 0.3m deep. There were many flints in the base of this cut and Road 1 was laid within the western part of this feature, but not on quite the same alignment. It was suggested by the excavators (1) that this was a cut for a very wide road, but this is not the normal method of construction of roads in Dorchester and the road would be much wider than usual (2), so this interpretation is far from certain.

The feature is similar to a wide flat linear cut found beneath the rampart to the north of the site in Colliton Park (3). The function of this feature must remain in doubt. It was the earliest feature found in the western half of the excavation trench and pre-dates Road 1, suggesting it is first century in date.

A line of postholes were found running along the middle of this feature, to the east of Road 1, but is unclear if the two are related. The postholes may represent a fence line.

<1> Aitken, G, and Aitken, N, 1982, 'Excavations on the Library Site, Colliton Park, Dorchester' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 99-100 (Article in serial). SDO9729.

<2> Draper, J, 1983, 'Some further discussion of the Library Site, Colliton Park, Dorchester' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 157-159 (Article in serial). SDO10071.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, p546 (Monograph). SDO150.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:30PM