EDO4141 - Tree Pits, Members' Car Park, County Hall, Dorchester; excavation 2000

The archaeological excavation of six tree pits in the Member’s car park, County Hall, Dorchester, was carried out by AC archaeology during late April 2000. The six pits were excavated by machine to a depth of 0.3m and 1.66m x 1.66m in plan. Further excavation was then undertaken by hand in 1m x 1m areas to a depth of 0.7m. The pits were aligned diagonally to the car park layout. All six tree pits revealed evidence for archaeological activity of the Romano-British period from a depth averaging 400 mm below the present ground surface and, in each case, sealed by a post-medieval soil deposit. Tree Pits 1, 3, and 5 contained structural remains in the form of wall foundations and surface levels, whilst Tree Pits 4 and 6 contained cut features such as pits. Only in Tree Pit 2 were there no features or intact structural deposits evident, with only a probable demolition layer at 800 mm below the ground surface. The presence of a deep post-medieval soil horizon in this Tree pit may represent part of some later activity which may have removed any substantial Romano-British deposits formerly present. It is considered likely that the structural deposits identified represent the remains of domestic buildings of 3rd-4th century AD date.