SDO21242 - 37 & 38 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset. Results of archaeological monitoring and recording

‘Archaeological monitoring and recording were undertaken by AC archaeology between March 2022 and July 2023, during groundworks associated with a residential redevelopment at 37 & 38 High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset (NGR SY 68966 90631). The site lies within the town’s historic Roman and medieval core, just inside the western arm of its Roman defences. Monitored groundworks compromised test pits, a bore hole, and footings and service trenches. The monitored groundworks exposed the edge of rampart material that formed part of the Roman defensive circuit of Dorchester. This was shown to seal an intact buried soil, which was dated from finds recovered to the mid to late 2nd century AD. Later activity on the site was dated to the post-medieval period. This consisted of a small number of 18th century cess pits and a buried soil, later sealed by the importation of material during the later 19th century to create a platform for the subsequent building construction. The finds comprise Roman, medieval and post-medieval pottery, prehistoric worked flint, Roman tiles, iron nails, worked stone, metalworking residues, glass, marine shell and animal bone.’