Monument record MDO18674 - A37 Western Link; Later Bronze Age Structure 5195

Evidence for a later Bronze Age structure was discovered during excavations along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link. The southernmost of two structures, [5195] was situated to the east of the lynchet on the upper terrace in the NW of Trench K. It consisted of a semi-circular terrace, at most 8.6m in diameter and 0.7m deep, cut into the chalk. An arc of five post-holes was found within the terrace, which may represent the surviving elements of an internal post ring, 5m in diameter. A second, contiguous, short arc of posts was suggested on the southern edge of the structure, but the continuation of these to the west was not confirmed. A thin layer of ash [988] had been dumped on the floor of the structure. Internal structures included a pair of post-holes and a pit containing flint nodules and flint knapping debris. The silt that filled the terrace on abandonment of the structure contained similar flint debris, six sherds of Early-Middle Bronze Age pottery, a fragment of possible clay weight and a fragment of shale working waste.

Found during a programme of archaeological work conducted by Wessex Archaeology along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link, Fordington Bottom, Dorchester between 1986 and 1988. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph; (DNHAS Monograph 11). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report (1).

Bronze Age activity above lynchet [900] was represented by structures [5195] & [5196], in Trench K. Both buildings were constructed on a moderately steep slope, with terraces cut into the coombe side. The western portions of the buildings were set out over colluvial material making up the positive lynchet, implying that the lynchet was created some time prior to the Bronze Age.

The southernmost of the two structures, [5195] was situated to the east of the lynchet on the upper terrace in the NW of Trench K. It consisted of a semi-circular terrace, at most 8.6m in diameter and 0.7m deep, cut into the chalk. An arc of five post-holes was found within the terrace, which may represent the surviving elements of an internal post ring, 5m in diameter providing the internal supports for a roof. A second, contiguous, short arc of posts was suggested on the southern edge of the structure, but the continuation of these to the west was not confirmed.

A thin layer of ash [988] was excavated within the structure. The underlying deposits showed no signs of burning implying that it was derived from elsewhere. Internal structures included a pair of post-holes in the centre of the structure [5048] and a pit [5034], 1.28m in diameter and o.2m deep, containing flint nodules and flint knapping debris of Bronze Age character.

No occupation material was recovered from the base of the terrace. After abandonment and collapse of the structure, the silt that filled the terrace contained similar flint debris, six sherds of Early-Middle Bronze Age pottery, a fragment of possible clay weight and a fragment of shale working waste.

<1> Smith, R J C et al, 1997, Excavations along the Route of the Dorchester By-pass, Dorset, 1986-8, 203-223 (Monograph). SDO9379.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2007 12:38PM