Monument record MDO19417 - Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester; Early Roman boundaries

Elements of an early Roman ditched boundary system were found during excavations by Wessex Archaeology in advance of the redevelopment of the former Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester in 2000-2001 and also during excavations on Dorchester Hospital Site C in 1970. An E-W ditch was continued in both directions beyond the excavated area. A N-S ditch joined it on the southern side and had a rounded terminal to the south. Two postholes were found adjacent to the latter ditch, perhaps the remains of a fence line. It is likely that these ditches formed the boundaries to a number of plots within this part of the Roman town in the early Roman period. Stratigraphic evidence suggests that these ditches were amongst the earliest features excavated on this site.

Elements of an early Roman ditched boundary system were found during excavations by Wessex Archaeology in advance of the redevelopment of the former Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester in 2000-2001 (1) and also during excavations on Dorchester Hospital Site C in 1970 (2).

Ditch 1 excavated in 1970 was a V-shaped ditch oriented almost N-S, with a rounded terminal to the south. It was filled with flint rubble and soil and contained coarseware pottery dating to the mid 1st century AD and two copper alloy brooches dating to c. AD50-60. A further adjacent section of this ditch was excavated in 2000-2001, where it was found to join another ditch G744 running E-W. Two postholes were found adjacent to the 1970 Ditch 1 and were perhaps part of a fence line. It is likely that these ditches formed the boundaries to a number of plots within this part of the Roman town in the early Roman period. Stratigraphic evidence suggests that these ditches were amongst the earliest features excavated on this site.

<1> Trevarthen, M, 2006, Bentleigh Cross Limited Former County Hospital Site Dorchester, Dorset. Internal Post-excavation Assessment. (Unpublished document). SDO10014.

<2> Greene, J P, 1993, Excavations at Dorchester Hospital (Site C), Dorchester, Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 73 (Article in serial). SDO9894.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:39PM