Monument record MDO18318 - Dorchester Police Station; Roman roadside ditch
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Summary
A probable Roman roadside ditch was exposed during evaluation of the Dorchester Police Station site in 2001 by AC archaeology. The ditch ran parallel and about 7.5 m from Weymouth Avenue (which is thought to be on the same line as the Roman road to Radipole). The ditch had a V-shaped profile and was filled with brown silty clay that contained a single sherd of Roman coarseware pottery, oyster shell and animal bone. It was on the same line as the ditch exposed during the construction of the South Station approach in 1986 and at Stationmaster's House in 1988 and is undoubtedly the same feature.
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
A probable Roman roadside ditch was exposed during evaluation of the Dorchester Police Station site in 2001 by AC archaeology (1) (2). The ditch ran parallel and about 7.5 m from Weymouth Avenue (which is thought to be on the same line as the Roman road to Radipole). The ditch was 1.8m wide and 0.7m wide with a V-shaped profile. A primary fill of pale yellowish-brown clay silt was sealed by a layer brown silty clay which filled the ditch and contained a single sherd of Roman coarseware pottery, oyster shell and animal bone. The ditch was cut through the pre-Roman buried soil layer (2).
This ditch is on the same line as the ditch exposed during the construction of the South Station approach in 1986 (3) and at Stationmaster's House in 1988 (4) and is undoubtedly the same feature.
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SDO9609 Article in serial: Whelan, J. 2001. Dorchester, Weymouth Avenue. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. 123. 131.
- <2> SDO9608 Unpublished document: Whelan, J. 2001. Archaeological Observations at the Dorchester Police Headquarters Site, Dorchester, Dorset: Results of Archaeological Monitoring.
- <3> SDO9563 Article in serial: Pearce, P. 1986. 'Observations at South Station, Dorchester' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. 108. 180.
- <4> SDO9562 Unpublished document: Bellamy, P S. 1989. Excavations at the Stationmaster's House, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester.
- <5> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1431035.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Event - Intervention: Dorchester Police Headquarters, Evaluation Trench 7 (Ref: NMR UID: 1367590) (EDO4175)
- Event - Intervention: Dorchester Police Headquarters; Archaeological Evaluation (Ref: NMR UID: 1367590) (EDO4178)
- Event - Intervention: Dorchester Police Headquarters; Evaluation Trench 8 (Ref: NMR UID: 1367590) (EDO4176)
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SY 69039 90060 (8m by 11m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY69SE |
| Civil Parish | Dorchester; Dorset |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 041 558
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 69 SE 383
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1431035
Record last edited
Nov 2 2023 7:27AM