Monument record MDO18114 - Greyhound Yard, Roman activity behind south frontage of insula

A series of pits and wells dug into the rear of the Southern Frontage of the Greyhound Yard insula dating from the 1st to 4th century AD, plus a possible path along the northern edge dating to the 2nd century AD, found during the 1984 Greyhound Yard excavations by Wessex Archaeology.

Found during the excavations carried out by Wessex Archaeology in 1984 prior to the redevelopment of the area of the former Greyhound Yard. (1) The results of the excavation were published together with the results of the adjacent Old Methodist Chapel excavations. (2) The numbers in square brackets below are context and feature numbers used in the published report (2). A series of pits, wells, and postholes were found at the extreme rear of the Southern Frontage of the Greyhound Yard insula. This activity is likely to have been associated with buildings along the Southern frontage of the insula but as only a very small strip to the rear of the Southern frontage properties was exposed during excavation, nothing is known of these buildings. A line of postholes [5043, 5051, 5055, 505]) defined a possible pathway about 1m wide along the northern edge of the area, along the edge of Enclosure [5519]. This pathway appears to have been relatively short-lived and is probably 2nd century AD in date. A further group of postholes was found further to the south but these do not appear to form a coherent pattern. There was no stratigraphic relationship between the individual pits and wells and between them and the northern boundary of the frontage. Well [945] was probably an early feature in this area dating to the 1st century AD. It may have been replaced by [3059]. Pits[ 1554], [5089] and [4289] were earlier Roman in date and pits [3059] and [1528] were broadly later Roman in date. Pits [1528] and [1554] must pre-date or post-date the path. The pits and wells are briefly summarised individually below from west to east. Well [945] was a circular shaft only partially excavated. The excavated fills comprised layers of backfilling into which the footings of the wall of enclosure [2500] had been inserted. The finds from this feature suggest an early 2nd century AD date for the backfilling, suggesting a 1st century AD date for its use. Pit [3059] lay south of well 945 and was an approximately circular vertical shaft which was only excavated to a depth of about 1m. It may have been a well. Its final fill was brown soil containing 3rd-4th century AD finds. Pit [1528] was a circular vertical shaft only partially within the excavation area and was excavated to depth of about 1.5m. It contained 3rd-4th century AD finds. Pit [3384] was a subrectangular pit almost completely outside the excavation area. It was not excavated. Pit [1554] was a circular vertical sided shaft excavated to a depth of about 1.5m. Its upper fill was a dark soil containing finds dated no later than the end of the 2nd century AD. Pit [5039] was a probably circular pit largely outside the excavated area. It was unexcavated. Pit [5089] was a subrectangular vertical shaft excavated to a depth of about 2 m. Its excavated fill was a dark soil containing finds dating up to the earlier 2nd century AD. It was probably used as a cess pit. Pit [3536] probably a circular shaft, but was largely unexcavated. It lay beneath the southeast corner of Building 3504. Pit [4299] was a rounded pit about 0.85m deep, containing 2nd century AD finds. Immediately adjacent was a trench [4296] about 0.7m deep also containing 2nd century AD finds.

Record last edited

Jan 17 2024 2:43PM