Monument record MDO18620 - Applegates, 34 Trinity Street, Dorchester; Early Roman timber buildings

A large number of postholes and a number of slots were found during excavations on the site of Applegates, 34 Trinity Street, Dorchester in 1971. These were among the earliest features on the site and probably represent the remains of a number of timber buildings of probable mid 1st century AD date. Along the western side of the Roman street were a series of postholes, slots and chalk floors which probably represent elements of one or two buildings along the street frontage. Two other groups of slots and postholes further west may be the remains of two further timber structures. Finds from the postholes and the overlying demolition levelling layer suggest a pre-Flavian date for these buildings.

A large number of postholes and a number of slots were found during excavations on the site of Applegates, 34 Trinity Street , Dorchester in 1971 (1) (2). These were among the earliest features on the site and probably represent the remains of a number of timber buildings of probable 1st century AD date. No complete plan of a building could be determined.

Along the eastern side of the Roman street were nineteen postholes and a slot covering an area of about 13m by 2.5m across. There was also a few small remnants of a chalk floor in this same area , which are probably part of one or two timber buildings set along the street frontage. The precise plan of the building(s) is not clear.

In the southwest part of the site was a group of six postholes and three slots, which may have been the remains of another timber building. And in the northwest part, there were thirteen postholes and a slot, which may be the remains of yet another structure. No floor surfaces survived from these two possible structures.

All these slots and postholes were sealed beneath a layer of mixed soil, flints, tile and limestone, which also contained some wall plaster a large quantity of nails, which probably represents the demolition debris from the timber buildings and the levelling of the site prior to further development. This layer contained a fairly large quantity of pre-Flavian samian pottery, together with some Claudio-Neronian finewares, a coin of Claudius, and a number of other finds which suggest a pre-Flavian date for its deposition, perhaps c. AD80-85. A small number of pre-Flavian samian sherds were recovered from the postholes, themselves, which suggests that the timber buildings can be dated from the time of the foundation of Durnovaria to c. AD80-85.

No evidence for the function of the timber buildings was recovered.

<1> O'Connor, B J, and Startin, W A, 1972, 'Excavations for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, Interim Report, 1971: 34 Trinity Street' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 151-152 (Article in serial). SDO9889.

<2> Wilson, D R, 1972, 'Roman Britain in 1971: Southern Counties' Britannia, 345 (Article in serial). SDO9891.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1430534 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:30PM