SDO10295 - The Romano-British site at Pinford Lane, Castleton; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

C.E. Bean continued his investigations at Pinford Lane in 1956, through the excavation of a long trench which he subsequently cut at right angles with a further series of cross trenches. This revealed a N-S aligned rectangular building [building1] constructed of coursed ashlar blocks laid on top of a 2 inch layer of yellow mortar. The building measured approximately 54 feet 6 inches long and 23 feet wide, although the southern end had been destroyed by a later ditch, possibly associated with post-medieval water meadows. A floor of laid and worn stones lay just below the turf line and seemed to post-date the demolition of the building. This floor had New Forest ware sherds and 4th century coins on it. Two earlier floors of worn local stone were found beneath, the uppermost of which appeared to be contemporary with building 1. Two coins of Constantine I were found on this floor, these and other finds suggest a late 3rd century date for the construction of building 1. External and adjacent to the destroyed south wall was a 15 inch thick layer of compacted stones interpreted as a roadway and outside the east wall a cobbled yard area extended into the adjoining field. A large number of lias roof slates overlay this surface, associated with the final collapse of the building. The walls of this building cut through an earlier clay floor laid on natural gravel and on a different alignment to building 1. Evidence for any walls associated with this floor appeared to have been destroyed. It is possible however that a ditch north of building 1 may have been for a sleeper wall. This ditch contained Samian ware, 2nd century pottery, five bronze brooches and an infant burial. The clay floor contained 1st century pottery in its make-up. Three post-holes cut into it contained large lumps of iron slag and the clay was burnt in the vicinity and a contemporary cobble surface lay to the north. The E-W aligned south wall of a second building [building 2]lay 8 feet to the NE of building 1. Building 2 appeared to measure approximately 48 feet by 23 feet with the south wall continuing eastwards from the SE angle, possibly as a boundary wall. The foundations comprised diagonally pitched stones set in gravely mortar, the stones had been completely robbed in places leaving the mortar as the only evidence for the line of the walls. It was of similar size and character to building 1 and may be of similar date. The majority of coins found in this season of excavation were of 3rd-4th century date. Domestic items were also found including glass vessels, spindle whorl, bone needles and pins, tweezers, hobnails and querns. As a result of several seasons work the site appears to span the 1st to 4th centuries with a range of timber and stone buildings arranged along both sites of a metalled street, with a high status building at the western end.