EDO4108 - Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester, Evaluation Trench E.

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 E , sited on the crest of the hill, showed very shallow ploughsoil cover, but contained the highest concentration of features and material finds, which were probably severely truncated. The trench was crossed by numerous ditches and gullies, all aligned N-S, which probably represent boundaries and drains, or structures. Two lines of post-holes also ran along the trench and may represent the walls of a a building. Pottery suggested that the majority of these features were Iron Age or Early Roman in date, although these might be residual. One feature was a grave cut for a crouched inhumation (adult female) accompanied by a small bowl of Late Iron Age/ Early Roman type. Two other small jars of similar type were recovered from a shallow scoop nearby. A small bone spoon dateable to the 1st century AD was also found in this trench.