EDO4218 - Old County Hospital Site, Dorchester, Excavation Area C

Excavations of two areas at the Old County Hospital site in Dorchester were undertaken by AC Archaeology during the spring of 1999. This comprised the excavation of two areas, A/B to the south and C to the north, as well as a subsequent watching brief. Area C was located in the northern portion of the site, adjacent to Somerleigh Road. Excavations here identified a Roman street line with associated ditches, a roadside building (only partly exposed) and a sequence of later pits and other features cutting into the street make-up. There were a number of subsequent repairs to the road surface and ditches. Following abandonment of the road, it appears that a substantial structure was located in this area, comprising a sequence of post-pits, each with a limestone slab in the base to act as a pad for support. AC Archaeology maintained a continuous watching brief during subsequent groundworks.