EDO4418 - County Hall, Colliton Park, excavations during construction of a new cellar in 1953

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Location

Grid reference SY 68977 90884 (point)
Map sheet SY69SE
Civil Parish Dorchester; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Technique(s)

Organisation

Not recorded.

Date

late 1953

Description

Late in 1953 the construction of a new cellar in the basement of the County Hall, in the corner angle between the north wing and the north west wing, adjoining the tennis court, led to the discovery of a 4th century Roman rubbish pit, some two-thirds of which lay outside the wall of the N.W. wing. The position of the pit would thus be some 25 feet due east of the N.W. angle of building IIIA excavated in 1938 (PDNHAS, 60, pl.X). The late Mr. Harry Burr undertook the clearance of the pit on belhalf of the society, until the foreman in charge found it necessary to concrete it, unfortunately before this work was completed. A quantity of pottery was deposited in the museum, but in the absence of notes on stratification, the series, which includes a piece of 2nd century Samian as well as 4th century New Forset Ware, does not merit detailed description.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Article in serial: Farrar, R A H. 1954. Excavations in Dorchester in 1954; County Hall, Colliton Park. 76.
  • <1> Serial: Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. 1956. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1954. 76. 88.
  • <3> Digital archive: Historic England. NRHE Excavation Index. 650875.

Map

Record last edited

Dec 19 2020 4:18PM

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