Monument record MDO18726 - A37 Western Link; Later Roman Structure 5197

Evidence for a later Roman structure was discovered during excavations along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link. A large stone and timber structure [5197] was built upslope of the holloway [354] in the NE corner of Trench H. Its construction truncated Early Roman pits and gullies set out in this area, suggesting a date of construction sometime after the 2nd century. A rectangular terrace was cut into the coombe side upon which a rectangular sturcture 9.0 x 7.0m, aligned E-W was built. This used both low masonry walls to support a timber frame and earthfast posts. The structure may have been longer than 9m but the west end was badly damaged by ploughing. The walls were of unbonded flint nodules with occasional limestone and sandstone blocks. The walls survived along the north edge and around the NE corner and may have acted partly as a revetment against the terrace edges and as a footing for a timber frame. Seven post-holes were found around the outside of the structure, four cut above the terrace edge and the other three defined the south side of the structure. Five features were found within the structure. The largest was an ovoid pit [579] containing 3rd-5th century pottery. Two hearths were recognised [583] & [587]. Two small features, a shallow trapezoidal scoop [585] and a circular post-hole [586] also contained 3rd-5th century pottery.

Found during a programme of archaeological work conducted by Wessex Archaeology along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link, Fordington Bottom, Dorchester between 1986 and 1988. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph; (DNHAS Monograph 11). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report (1).

There was no discernible break in occupation from the Early Roman period into the 3rd and 4th centuries but a distinct change in the emphasis and scale of occupation. The settlement spread over trenches F, G/H and K and as far south as Trenches D and E. For the first time the coombe floor/ lower terrace was intensively used as a working area with associated features. At least nine new buildings, probably serving a variety of functions, were constructed along the coombe side.

A large stone and timber structure [5197] was built upslope of the holloway [354] in the NE corner of Trench H. Its construction truncated Early Roman pits and gullies set out in this area, suggesting a date of construction sometime after the 2nd century.

A rectangular terrace measuring 11.0 x 9.0m, was cut into the coombe side to a depth of 0.65m. Upon this level surface a rectangular sturcture 9.0 x 7.0m, aligned E-W, was built. This used both low masonry walls to support a timber frame and earthfast posts. The structure may have been longer than 9m but the west end was badly damaged by ploughing.

The walls were of unbonded flint nodules with occasional limestone and sandstone blocks. Two sections of wall survived a 5m section along the north side of the structure and a short length around the angle of the NE corner. The wall may have acted partly as a revetment against the terrace edges and as a footing for a timber frame. Seven post-holes were found around the outside of the structure, four cut above the terrace edge and the other three defined the south side of the structure. The post-holes were on average 0.51m in diameter and 0.25m deep. Post-hole [790] contained three partial sheep skeletons. Part of an upper Greensand millstone was found in post-hole [666].

Five features were found within the structure. The largest was an ovoid pit [579] measuring 1.4 x 1.2m and was 0.4m deep. It contained 3rd-5th century Black Burnished Ware pottery, fragments of shale chopping board and an iron collar from a wooden implement.

Two hearths were recognised. Hearth [583] was a shallow irregular scoop 1.54 x 1.17m and 0.1m deep containing a circle of four flint nodules within a brownish-grey silty loam. The chalk bedrock in the base of the feature was burnt, and an iron spike was hammered into it at the north end. Fragments of a large 3rd-5th century Black Burnished Ware jar was found on the surface of the feature. The remains of a minimum of seven sheep were also found in the hearth.

Hearth [587], to the west was smaller (0.51m diameter, 0.12m deep). It contained fragments of burnt clay, with the underlying chalk showing signs of burning. An iron hearth fitting, a greensand rotary quern and two sherds of New Forest colour-coated ware were also recovered.

Two small features, a shallow trapezoidal scoop [585] and a circular post-hole [586] also contained 3rd-5th century pottery.

<1> Smith, R J C et al, 1997, Excavations along the Route of the Dorchester By-pass, Dorset, 1986-8, 203-223 (Monograph). SDO9379.

Record last edited

Jan 30 2007 10:38AM