Monument record MDO5993 - Roman occupation, Shapwick

Roman pit and occupation debris from High Street, Shapwick, just south of the Badbury Rings to Dorchester Roman road included first- and second century pottery, a stamped mortarium by DECANIVS and a coin of Claudius. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water.

A Roman pit and occupation debris were discovered in 1954 at ST 94190190 in a cess pit at the rear of No. 1 Bungalow, High Street, Shapwick. 1st and 2nd century pottery including samian ware, a bronze coin of Claudius, a rim fragment of a mortarium, and three pieces of Medieval pottery were found. The finds are in theDorset County Museum (Acc. Nos 1954. 10 and 1954. 19). <1-3>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1955, 138-139 (Serial). SDO55.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1959, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1958, 106-107 (Serial). SDO58.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 61 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(33) Roman Pit and Occupation Debris (94190190), discovered in High Street, Shapwick, immediately S. of the Roman road from Badbury Rings to Dorchester, occupied a terrace of Valley Gravel, 90 ft. above O.D. A coin of Claudius and 1st and 2nd-century pottery including samian ware and a stamped mortarium of DECANIUS were found (Dorset Procs., 77 (1955), 138-9; 80 (1958), 106-7).'

<4> Papworth, M, 1994, Shapwick Parish, Kingston Lacy Estate, Wessex Region (Unpublished document). SDO14228.

A Romano-British pit was uncovered in 1954 (Leighton 1954) while digging a cesspit at the rear of No.1 Bungalow, High Street, Shapwick. This property is not owned by the National Trust but the site may continue on to National Trust property immediately to the south east. The pottery found in the pit included Samian and dated to the 1st-2nd centuries A.D. It provides evidence for the continuation of the Romano-British settlement 112,481 beneath the village of Shapwick either side of the Roman road to Dorchester.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209644 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 12:59PM