EDO3898 - St Genevieve's Convent, South Walks, Dorchester; evaluation 1995

Wessex Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land within the grounds of St Genevieve's Convent, South Walks, Dorchester, during September 1995. The evaluation comprised an auger survey and the excavation of 8 machine cut trial trenches, each measuring 20m x 1.6m in plan. The auger survey comprised three transects, totalling 29 points (generally spaced between 2m and 5m apart) in the northern portion of the site. The results of the auger survey and trial pits combined to identify the middle and outer ditches and counterscarp bank of the Roman town defences of Durnovaria. The counterscarp bank was examined in detail in Trench 1 and at least two phases of construction were recognised with a secondary bank deposited against the outer face of the primary bank. A buried soil was recorded beneath the counterscarp bank. The east- west line of the features of the town defences was recorded c. 20m to the north of the predicted line. The southern limit of the Roman defensive circuit follows the approximate line of the south edge of the gravel terrace outside South Court House. No other features of archaeological significance were identified within the evaluation area.