EDO3878 - Channons Garage, High East Street, Dorchester; evaluation Trench 3

Exeter Archaeology undertook an archaeological evaluation excavation during January 2001 at Channon’s Garage, High East Street, Dorchester, in advance of redevelopment for mixed residential and retail use. Seven trenches were excavated by machine. Trench 3 measured 5.5m x 1.5m in plan and was aligned approximately NNE-SSW, towards the western end of the development area. It was excavated to a general depth of 1.3m. Undisturbed clay subsoil (thought to overly natural chalk) lay at a depth of 2.1m. The upper 0.9m of deposits were post-medieval in date, although a large pit (not fully excavated) was cut through the level of substantial Roman deposits and natural subsoil at the north end of the trench. Two Roman floor surfaces comprising limestone slabs and crushed chalk were exposed at depths of 1m and 1.4m respectively. Above these, Roman layers containing pottery of 3rd - 4th century date extended to only 0.8m below the existing ground surface. These presumably represent the demolished remains of the last Roman buildings on the site. Below the crushed chalk floor, as many as four additional floor surfaces represented considerable alteration or rebuilding of structures on this position. However, no artefacts were located to identify the date of these early building events.