Monument record MDO18411 - Poundbury Late Roman Mausoleum R1

Evidence for Late Roman mausoleum R1 was discovered during excavations at Poundbury. Robber trenches filled with plaster and stone rubble were found along the lines of the north and west walls. THe full plan of this structure was not exposed. A possible construction terrace lay outside the west wall. A substantial layer of building debris lay within the structure containing limestone roof tiles and Ham stone rubble. No occupation or floor levels were found. Below the rubble in the centre of the building lay the grave of a 40-year-old female without grave goods, flanked by two unexcavated graves to the south and north.

Found during the excavations directed by Christopher Sparey Green, for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, between 1966 and 1979 during development of the Grove Trading Estate on the eastern slopes of Poundbury Camp, Dorchester (1). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report and archive (1)(2). Mausoleum R1 was partially exposed in three small trenches on site A. Traces of the western and northern walls were discovered as robber trenches filled with mixed plaster, limestone and flint rubble, which sealed a layer of thick plaster adhering to the natural chalk. This layer of plaster is interpreted as a bedding layer for the walls; three flints and two fragments of limestone were still in place. The plaster outline of the west wall was 0.6m wide and 4.3m long, the north wall was not fully uncovered but extended at least 2.75m. A possible construction terrace lay outside the west wall, which contained grey-brown soil with chalk rubble and fragments of plaster. The base of a construction trench, which may have delimited the terrace area or acted as a drain/soakaway, lay 0.15m below the base of the wall. A substantial layer of building debris including plaster fragments, Ham stone rubble and limestone roof tileslay within the structure. No occupation or floor levels were found. Below the rubble in the centre of the excavated section lay grave [3], that of a 40-year-old female without grave goods, a coffin stain was noted but no nails. Two unexcavated graves lay on either side of Grave [3]. All three graves were on the same alignment as the mausoleum, but it was not clear whether one or more of them was cut through the demolition rubble (1).

Record last edited

Aug 3 2010 5:26PM