Monument record MDO18794 - Merchant's Garage, High West Street, Dorchester; Early Roman pits

A number of large intersecting pits dating to the 1st century AD were found during observations on the site of the former Merchant’s Garage, High East Street, Dorchester in 1983. One very large shallow pit was similar to a pit found on the adjacent Library Site in 1961-3. They may have been quarry pits.

A number of large intersecting pits of 1st century AD date were found during observations and recording at the site of the former Merchant’s Garage, High East Street, Dorchester in 1983 (1) (2). The full extent and relationships between these pits has not been recorded. The largest pit was probably oval or sub-circular in plan over six metres across and with a flat bottom 0.35m deep. It was filled with mid orange-brown clay and contained some late 1st century AD pottery. To the north, were two or three more pits, rather smaller in size which were not fully investigated. The large pit was very similar in size, character and date to a pit found on the adjacent Library Site to the north, during the 1961-3 excavations (3). The function of these pits is not known, but their size may suggest they were quarry pits, though their shallowness is puzzling. Potentially they may have had another more specialised use. These pits are earlier than the first Roman buildings found on the site.

Record last edited

Jun 30 2014 4:32PM