Monument record MDO18716 - A37 Western Link; Late Iron Age/ Early Roman Structure 420

Evidence for a Late Iron Age/ Early Roman structure was discovered during excavations along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link. Structure [420] was located on the coombe side on the upper terrace at the southern end of Trench G, downslope and to the west of structure [394]. It was subrectangular, c. 4m long, 3.2m wide and 0.45m deep. The sunken floor was worn smooth. Several features cut it; two post holes, a gully [468] in which was the partial skeleton of a mature cow, a hearth and the terminal of a linear feature. A single infant burial [472] was also cut into the floor. Although the hearth suggests at least a partly domestic function, no occupation debris was recovered from the floor of the building and, after its abandonment, the remains of 35 sheep were dumped on the floor. The bones were in a condition, which suggested they had been quickly and deliberatley covered, sealed by a deposit of silty clay. The structure was subsequently covered by colluvium and then disturbed by a series of Early Roman gullies [418].

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).

A series of features was recorded in Trenches F and G/H south of the main area of burial in Trench K. Most are poorly dated by artefacts but were startigraphically early and they may represent sporadic activity during the 1st century AD. Two structures [394] & [420] were found on the coombe side on the upper terrace in Trenches G & F.

Structure [420] was located at the southern end of Trench G, downslope and to the west of structure [394]. It was subrectangular, c. 4m long, 3.2m wide and 0.45m deep. The sunken floor was worn smooth. Several features cut it; two post holes, a gully [468] in which was the partial skeleton of a mature cow, a hearth and the terminal of a linear feature. A single infant burial [472] was also cut into the floor. Although the hearth suggests at least a partly domestic function, no occupation debris was recovered from the floor of the building and, after its abandonment, the remains of 35 sheep were dumped on the floor. The bones were in a condition, which suggested they had been quickly and deliberatley covered, sealed by a deposit of silty clay. The structure was subsequently covered by colluvium and then disturbed by a series of Early Roman gullies [418].

<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 5:38AM