Monument record MDO18720 - A37 Western Link; Early Roman Structure 457

Evidence for an Early Roman structure was discovered during excavations along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link. A possible robber trench [457] was recorded in the coombe floor and consisted of a trench 1.2m deep with a U-shaped profile, 2m wide at the top and 0.5m at the base. It extended 3m east into the trench and measured 7m long N-S with short returns at each end continuing under the western edge of the trench. It contained a band of large flint nodules 0.45m thick towards the base, presumed to be a wall foundation. 1st-3rd century Black Burnished Ware was recovered from the upper fills and the ditch was partly sealed by late Roman yard surface [359]. It is possible that this represents the foundation trench for the wall of a square or rectangular structure.

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 possible robber trench [457] was recorded in the coombe floor and consisted of a trench 1.2m deep with a U-shaped profile, 2m wide at the top and 0.5m at the base. It extended 3m east into the trench and measured 7m long N-S with short returns at each end continuing under the western edge of the trench. It contained a band of large flint nodules 0.45m thick towards the base, presumed to be a wall foundation. 1st-3rd century Black Burnished Ware was recovered from the upper fills and the ditch was partly sealed by late Roman yard surface [359].

It is possible that this represents the foundation trench for the wall of a square or rectangular structure, although there was a lack of floor deposits or general building debris.

<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 6:05AM