SDO10035 - Dorset County Hospital Site, Princes Street, Dorchester; Additional Archaeological Field Evaluation: Northern Area, Test Pits and Auger Survey

A field evaluation comprising hand-excavated test pits and an auger survey was carried out in the grounds of Dorset County Hospital, Princes Street, Dorchester, in February 1994. The purpose of the work was to provide additional information on the survival, nature and depth of any archaeological deposits within the area, to supplement previous fieldwork (1989) and a desk-based assessment (1993). The test pits revealed Roman features in the western part of the area, adjacent to the mortuary (at about 69.8m OD) and in the north part behind Lime Tree House (at about 72m OD); deep modern overburden elsewhere may seal medieval or earlier deposits. The auger survey suggests that archaeological levels (predominately Roman) may survive in several parts of the site which are currently open. Potential for pre-Roman layers is indicated by the apparent presence of clay and silt layers overlying the chalk in auger holes in the north part, the central part and the southern part of the site. This potential cannot be fully assessed without larger scale work.