SDO9893 - 'Excavations for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, Interim Report, 1969' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society.

Three sites, all close together in the SW corner of the Roman town of Dorchester, were examined in 1969 under the general supervision of Professor B. Cunliffe. Site A comprised a trench 3m wide and 27m long into the rear of the south rampart, near the SW corner of the town. A 2nd -3rd century date was suggested for the construction of the chalk rampart. Three substantial post holes suggested a large structure, possibly a tower contemporary with the rampart. To the north the remains of a domestic building cut off the tail of the rampart. It was constructed of Portland stone with flint foundations and was in use soon after the construction of the rampart. A chalk quarry pit may be connected with the ramparts construction. Site B lay immediately E of the boundary of Whetstone's Almshouses and the excavations were undertaken in advance of building the County Hospital extensions. An area 24mx14m was excavated, incorporating some earlier trenches. The results suggested that this part of the town remained undeveloped until the present day, being used in the Roman period largely for quarrying and dumping rubbish. Site C lay in the grounds of the Somerleigh Court wing of the County Hospital, immediately south of the tennis court. The work was carried out between September AND November 1969 in advance of buidling the Hospital extension. Little evidence was found for early occupation, but a small ditch was excavated which contained abundant 1st century pottery. The principal discovery was a rectangular Roman building measuring 16mx8m, built in the 2nd century and destroyed in the late 4th century. Within the building were six furnaces built of Portland Stone and probably used for metal working. a hoard of more than 650 coins was found amongst the demolition rubble. To the north were several rubbish pits and a large well, disused by 300AD. To the south a very large pit was probably a chalk quarry.