Monument record MDO19011 - Medieval pit, Colliton Park, Dorchester

A medieval pit filled with dark humic soil and containing probable 12th-early 13th century pottery (as well as residual Roman material) was excavated at the south east corner of County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester in 1949. It was sealed beneath a thin rammed chalk surface. The pit and surface were originally thought to be Roman, when first observed in 1948.

A pit described as having a 'sagging U-shaped profile with somewhat undercut sides' was exposed in a construction trench on the southeast corner of County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester in 1947. It was filled with dark soil and although no finds were recovered from it, it was considered to be Romano-British in date. It was sealed beneath what was described as a plaster floor, also thought to be Roman in date, covered with a thin scatter of burnt material. (1)

The pit was investigated further in 1949, when it was excavated by R. A. H. Farrar. It had been cut through a levelling layer of brown loam containing 3rd and 4th century pottery. The pit had a single fill of dark soil with a high humic content and contained mainly Romano-British finds, but it also contained a significant proportion of medieval pottery of probable 12th-early 13th century date. The so-called plaster floor overlying the pit comprised a thin layer of rammed chalk. Both of these features are likely to be medieval in date and not Roman as first reported. (2)

<1> Farrar, R A H, 1948, Dorchester, Colliton Park, 60-61 (Article in serial). SDO9759.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1949, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1948, 60-61 (Serial). SDO48.

<2> Farrar, R A H, 1949, Dorchester, Colliton Park, 63 (Article in serial). SDO9758.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1950, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1949, 63 (Serial). SDO49.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:35PM