Monument record MDO18730 - A37 Western Link; Later Roman Field Boundaries

Evidence for later Roman field boundaries was discovered during excavations along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link. Three linear field boundaries were recorded in Trench D. Ditch [169] ran N-S along the contour between graves [167] and [154], which were aligned on it. Two further short ditch segments formed right angles with this ditch at its north end. They averaged 1m wide and 0.3m deep, with shallow U-profiles.

Found during a programme of archaeological work conducted by Wessex Archaeology along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link, Fordington Bottom, Dorchester between 1986 and 1988. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph; (DNHAS Monograph 11). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report (1). There was no discernable break in occupation from the Early Roman period into the 3rd and 4th centuries but a distinct change in the emphasis and scale of occupation. The settlement spread over trenches F, G/H and K and as far south as Trenches D and E. For the first time the coombe floor/ lower terrace was intensively used as a working area with associated features. At least nine new buildings, probably serving a variety of functions, were constructed along the coombe side. Two late Roman graves were found in Trench D. both were aligned on contemporary field boundaries and may mark the southern limit of the Roman settlement. Three linear field boundaries were recorded in Trench D. Ditch [169] ran N-S along the contour between graves [167] and [154], which were aligned on it. Two further short ditch segments formed right angles with this ditch at its north end. They averaged 1m wide and 0.3m deep, with shallow U-profiles.

Record last edited

Jan 30 2007 11:24AM