Monument record MDO18486 - Poundbury Post-Roman Structure PR3b

Post-Roman Structure PR3b was discovered in the southeast part of Late Roman enclosure 3, during the 1966-79 excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester. It was about three metres north of contemporary structure PR2a and occupied a shallow terrace in the SW corner of Site B in almost the same position as the possibly earlier post-built building PR3a. Structure PR3b was a rectangular building defined by slots for sleeper beams and lines of postholes. No information was recovered for the function of this structure. Large quantities of burnt stone rubble were found sealing the remains of this building, perhaps deriving from its destruction. Structure PR3b was assigned to the latest phase of post-Roman settlement on the site.

Found during the excavations directed by Christopher Sparey Green, for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, between 1966 and 1979 during development of the Grove Trading Estate on the eastern slopes of Poundbury Camp, Dorchester (1). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published excavation report and archive (1)(2). Further refinement of the post-Roman settlement sequence has been undertaken by Christopher Sparey Green since the initial publication of the site and this has been taken into account in the following description (3).

Structure PR3b was located approximately three metres to the north of PR2a and its remains were very vestigial and partially overlay the earlier, larger rectangular building PR3a. The structure appeared to comprise three rows of postholes and several slots on a trampled terrace area. The terrace extended beyond the post-rows to the west, perhaps indicating that the structure extended in that direction. The southern side was formed by two slots and the east and west sides by lines of postholes. There was little evidence for the north wall. Along the centre of the building was another line of small postholes. The building was approximately 4.6m by 4.6m internally. No evidence survived for the roof structure.

There was no dating evidence or evidence for the use of this building. It was sealed by layers of burnt rubble, which may have been derived from drystone walling associated with structure PR3b.

Structure PR3 was originally considered to be a single structure and was assigned to phase VA (1). In a later reappraisal of the post-Roman settlements, the structural elements were split into two separate structures. It was thought that structure PR3b probably belonged to the latest phase of the settlement, phase 3, on the basis of the post and slot structure being more akin to other buildings from this phase. In common with structure PR2a, it was sealed by burnt rubble from its final destruction which may mark some substantial destruction at the end of this later phase (3).

<1> Sparey Green, C, 1987, Excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset 1966-1982. Volume 1: The Settlements (Monograph). SDO9630.

<2> Sparey Green, C, 1966-1979, Poundbury, Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10096.

<3> Sparey Green, C J, 1996, Poundbury, Dorset: settlement and economy in the Late and post-Roman Dorchester (Article in monograph). SDO10040.

Record last edited

Aug 3 2010 5:33PM