EDO4845 - Dorset County Hospital Site, Princes Street, Further Archaeological Evaluation Test Pit 1

Wessex Archaeology carried out a field evaluation in the grounds of Dorset County Hospital, Princes Street, Dorchester, in February 1994. This work comprised 6 hand excavated test pits and an auger survey, the purpose of which was to provide additional information on the survival, nature and depth of any archaeological deposits within the area, to supplement previous fieldwork (1989) and a desk based assessment (1993). The test pits revealed Roman features in the western part of the area, adjacent to the mortuary (at about 69.8m OD) and in the north part behind Lime Tree House (at about 72m OD); deep modern overburden elsewhere may seal medieval or earlier deposits. The auger survey suggests that archaeological levels (predominately Roman) may survive in several parts of the site which are currently open. Potential for pre-Roman layers is indicated by the apparent presence of clay and silt layers overlying the chalk in auger holes in the north part, the central part and the southern part of the site. This potential cannot be fully assessed without larger scale work. Test Pit 1 was a 2x2m trench to the east of the Nurses Home and was excavated to a depth of 1.25m. Topsoil overlay modern made ground and demolition debris, which in turn overlay a modern floor surface. Below this was a deep build up of soil, partially recorded through augering. Below this at a depth of 2.25m below ground level, was a rubble layer, which was augered to a depth of 0.05m before it became impenetrable. This layer may represent the top of possible archaeological remains, and occurs at 68.65m OD. However, due to the presence of a cess pit and associated services, it was only possible to excavate a 1mx1m box in the NW corner of the test pit.