Monument record MDO39323 - Potential hollow way, Edward Road , Dorchester

A large irregular feature recorded during archaeological observations of development in 2009. The feature measured approximately 14 metres wide and up to 1.5 metres deep with moderately steep sides running roughly east-west and lying 65 metres to north of the projected path of a Roman road seen elsewhere in Dorchester. The nature of this feature was not clear to the archaeologists on site; they considered a number of possible interpretations, including that this was a natural feature of some sort, or a hollow way.

The basal fill is very pale silty clay with small chalk inclusions and the upper fill is a mid-greyish brown silty clay loam with common flint and chalk inclusions, both interpreted as the probable result of gradual silting. A single flint waste flake and a small sherd of sandy tempered Romano-British pottery were recovered from the filling.

The archaeologists on site noted that the form of the feature was markedly different to that of the Roman road excavated in the town, and on which it appeared to be aligned, but similar in dimension and fill material to a hollow way recorded at Tolpuddle Ball. No evidence of wheel ruts or metalling was seen, constraints on site were considerable and may have prevented recognition of any such evidence. An alternative interpretations considered by them is that this feature is of natural origin, possibly a large hollow, pond or erosion feature or palaeochannel.

<1> Birbeck, V, 2009, Edward Road, Dorchester, Dorset; Archaeological Watching Brief Report (Unpublished document). SDO15293.

Record last edited

Apr 20 2017 2:56PM