Monument record MDO18724 - A37 Western Link; Later Roman Working Area 467

Evidence for a later Roman working area was discovered during excavations along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link. This extensive area was cut into the floor of the coombe in Trenches G & F. it consisted of a yard surface [359] and revetment wall [356], set against the coombe side. A cistern [360] and a drying oven [404] were constructed in the yard surface. The working area [467] was at least 26m x 15m and was cut 0.5m deep across the coombe floor and into the coombe side. A timber and masonry revetment wall [356] was built along its east edge to protect the working area from hillwash. A line of six post-holes lay in front of this wall in Trench G and may represent a reinforcement of the wall in the area of drying oven [404]. 2nd-3rd century pottery was found in the colluvium that built up behind wall [356]. The working area was floored with a yard surface [359] constructed of several deposits of packed flint and chalk rubble, on average 0.1m thick in which repairs and pottery dating from the 2nd century AD were evident. A rectangular cistern [360] was constructed at the same time as the yard surface [359], lined by a mortared flint wall with opus signinum on the side s and base possibly to render it watertight. A drying oven [404] was added to the south of the cistern, cutting through the yard surface. It was H-shaped in plan with a rectangular stokehole to the west and lined with mortared flint walls surviving up to eight courses. Carbonised grain from the backfill of the drier indicates that its last use had been for the drying/roasting of malted grain.

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).

There was no discernible break in occupation from the Early Roman period into the 3rd and 4th centuries but a distinct change in the emphasis and scale of occupation. The settlement spread over trenches F, G/H and K and as far south as Trenches D and E. For the first time the coombe floor/ lower terrace was intensively used as a working area with associated features. At least nine new buildings, probably serving a variety of functions, were constructed along the coombe side.

This extensive area was cut into the floor of the coombe in Trenches G & F. it consisted of a yard surface [359] and revetment wall [356], set against the coombe side. A cistern [360] and a drying oven [404] were constructed in the yard surface.

The working area [467] was at least 26m x 15m and was cut 0.5m deep across the coombe floor and into the coombe side. A timber and masonry revetment wall [356] was built along its east edge to protect the working area from hillwash. The wall survived to two courses and was composed of flint nodules and occasional limestone blocks bonded with mortar. The wall continued into Trench F and terminated 1m north of the southern baulk. A line of six post-holes lay in front of this wall in Trench G. they were circular with an average diameter of 0.42m and depth of 0.22m, with post-packing. They were placed 1.16m apart, forming a line 8.8m long. They may represent a reinforcement of the wall in the area of drying oven [404].

After the construction of wall [356] there was a build up of colluvium upslope behind it to the east. Pottery, predominately of Late Roman fabric and form was found within the colluvium.

The working area was floored with a yard surface [359], which skirted around and partially sealed earlier Roman feature [457] to the north. Remnants of yard surface were also found in Trench F. The Surface was constructed of several deposits of packed flint and chalk rubble, on average 0.1m thick in which repairs and pottery dating from the 2nd century AD were evident.

A rectangular cistern [360] was constructed at the same time as the yard surface [359]. It measured 2.05m x 1.05 x 0.85m, lined by a mortared flint wall, 0.3m wide, with opus signinum on the sides and base possibly to render it watertight. The opus signinum may originally have been stained with red ochre. The base was well worn with a large oval depression in the centre. A soil smaple from the floor produced charred grain.

A drying oven [404] was added to the south of the cistern, cutting through the yard surface. It was H-shaped in plan, measuring 5.10 x 3.0 x 0.9m, with a rectangular stokehole to the west. It was lined with mortared flint walls surviving up to eight courses. Unfaced limestone blocks were used to construct the flue. The stokehole was almost square, 1.8m x 1.9m, and displayed signs of having been corbelled. A small oven [433] had also been constructed on the north side of the stokehole, presumably designed to be used in tandem with it. Limestone blocks in the fill of the drier chamber may represent remains of the drying floor. Carbonised grain from the backfill of the drier indicates that its last use had been for the drying/roasting of malted grain.

<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

Mar 15 2012 10:44AM