SDO21144 - 47-48 High Street, Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Evaluation

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Spruce Town Planning, on behalf of Nylo Homes Ltd, to undertake an archaeological evaluation of a parcel of land to the rear of 47 – 48 High East Street, Dorchester, Dorset. Comprising three hand excavated trenches the investigation was undertaken to inform a planning decision associated with the redevelopment of the site which includes residential and commercial aspects, along with associated access and landscaping. The trenches, two of which measured 2 m in length and 1 m in width, the other 0.5 m in length and 0.5 m in width, revealed substantial deposits of made ground sealed beneath topsoil. The made ground was found to contain a multitude of modern debris including fragments of cement, glass, ceramics, metal wire and piping and plastic. A small quantity of asbestos containing material was also encountered. As such, after the excavation of a sondage in Trench 2 confirmed the presence of such layers to a depth of over 1.07 m below ground level, the works were halted on health and safety grounds. Whilst no archaeological features or deposits were revealed during the works it is highlighted that the natural geology was not exposed in any of the trenches and, given the archaeological richness of the surrounding area and the site’s position within the north-east of the Roman town of Durnovaria, there remains a potential for such remains to be present beneath the made ground deposits. The investigation was carried out intermittently between 8th and 18th November 2021.’