Monument record MDO423 - Romano-British occupation, Poundbury Farm, Bradford Peverell

Romano-British settlement remains including a number of burials spanning the early-late Roman period, found during excavations for the A37 Western Link Road element of the Dorchester Bypass. The remains were sealed by a decalcified colluvial soil developed over an extensive period of time.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1957, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1956, 80-81 (Serial). SDO56.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1963, Monuments Threatened or Destroyed. A Select List: 1956-1962, 14 (Monograph). SDO12558.

‘FORDINGTON DOWN [SY 667907] Romano-British settlements, previously unrecorded, surrounded by ‘Celtic’ fields partly overlaid by strip fields; about 60 acres considered. (Dorset Nat. Hist. and Arch. Soc., Procs., 78 (1956), 80-1.)’

<3> Chowne, P, 1988, Interim Report on the Western Link Road, Bradford Peverell, Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. (Article in serial). SDO9855.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1988, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1987, 125-126 (Serial). SDO87.

<4> Davies, S M, 1990, Poundbury Farm Track, Dorchester, Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. (Article in serial). SDO9852.

‘… At the northern end of the track, in the valley bottom immediately adjacent to the Western Link road, was a substantial build up of colluvium. Cutting through this were the footings of a Roman building, and floor or yard surfaces which produced a small quantity of Roman pottery, animal bone and a 2nd- or 3rd-century copper alloy penannular brooch. This Roman settlement is probably the same one previously excavated along the line of the Western Link.’

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1991, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1990, 115 (Serial). SDO90.

<5> AC archaeology, 1992, Dorchester Ring Main 1992: Post-Excavation Research Design, Site 605 (Unpublished document). SDO9463.

‘Site 605 (SY 666907) Romano-British Settlement.
Topsoil clearance in plot 52 revealed a large amount of surface finds, concentrated largely in two main areas; at the southern end of the plot close to the farmers track, and in the central part of the plot where the coombe bottoms out.
A strip of the easement was kept for access, while the remainder was cleared by hand to determine the extent of the archaeological deposits. It became evident that there were structural remains, and it was decided to preserve these in the access strip, by creating a running track of Terram and gravel. All the exposed areas were recorded and negotiation with the contractors and Wessex Water allowed the pipe trench to be routed to avoid major structural remains. A strip 1.5 metres wide, to accommodate the pipe trench, was excavated by hand, and revealed a sequence of occupation and destruction phases. The excavation of the pipe trench was monitored, and any further deposits recorded. The running track was then lifted and the area cleaned by hand to allow the extent of the deposits in this area to be planned. No excavation was undertaken in this area. Preliminary assessment of the excavation records of the area at the bottom of the coombe has enabled seven phases to be recognised.
Phase 1: colluvial deposits containing prehistoric artefacts
Phase 2: initial occupation during Romano-British period, building (399)
Phase 3: destruction debris from phase 2, soil accumulation
Phase 4: substantial Romano-British occupation, building (307) and associated surfaces and features
Phase 5: building (315) and associated features
Phase 6: destruction debris from phases 4 and 5
Phase 7: medieval ditch
In the area at the southern end of the plot, structural remains were also recorded. This area was not affected by excavation of the pipe trench and therefore excavation was kept to a minimum to allow for the preservation of the deposits. The excavation of these areas yielded a large amount of finds and the post excavation research will give a valuable insight into the date and economy of the site.’

<6> Richards, J, 1992, Observations on the Dorchester Ring Main - Interim Note. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society., 247-248 (Article in serial). SDO9849.

‘Romano-British settlement in Fordington Bottom (SY 666907).
Topsoil removal revealed extensive Romano-British remains including indications of substantial structures. A combination of active protection and limited excavation (restricted to the line of the pipe trench) enabled seven phases of activity to be recognised. Colluvial deposits containing prehistoric artefacts were overlain by three phases of Romano-British occupation associated with destruction levels and soil accumulations. The 3rd-4th century phase includes a substantial flint and mortar building with associated surfaces and features. In the final phase a medieval ditch was cut through this building.’

Record last edited

Oct 27 2017 10:19AM