EDO4107 - Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester; evaluation (Trench D)

Wessex Archaeology carried out an evaluation of a Site proposed for housing development in November 1984. The development area lies on a gentle ridge between the Roman Town of Durnovaria and Mt. Pleasant, 1km SE of the Roman Town, on the south side of Alington Avenue, east of Fordington Farm. A total of nine evaluation trenches were excavated down to chalk bedrock with a 2m toothless bucket. The total area excavated was 800 square metres spread evenly across the 3.46 ha. field. Trench D contained three medieval ditches, which lay at an angle to the trench and may represent arable field boundaries and headlands. These three ditches cut and were cut by a whole series of shallow gullies and ditches, all running N-S, and probably represent a series of structures and infield boundaries. The dating evidence (pottery) suggests a medieval or later date for this group.