SDO15293 - Edward Road, Dorchester, Dorset; Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Bryant Homes Southern Counties to carry out archaeological recording on land at Edward Road, Dorchester, Dorset following groundworks for the redevelopment of the site. The Site is centered on NGR 368835 090070. Although groundworks on the Site had commenced, there remained the opportunity to record a north-south aligned section positioned in the southern half of the Site. Possible archaeological features visible in the section were investigated and recorded; a photographic record was also made of the postulated line of a possible Roman road thought to cross the Site. Three possible features were identified in the remaining east-facing section; excavation of two of these produced modern brick fragments and the remains of a tin can and no further recording was undertaken. A very large feature was identified in the central part of the site and the limited excavation possible produced a small abaraded Romano-British pottery and a single flint waste flake. The projected line of the Roman road was surveyed using a GPS and the area carefully examined for any remains, as were the areas on either side. No traces of the road were found, however, the ground surface above the section appeared to be truncated probably during a previous development of the Site.