SDO10014 - Bentleigh Cross Limited Former County Hospital Site Dorchester, Dorset. Internal Post-excavation Assessment.

Excavations, commissioned and funded by Bentleigh Cross Limited, were conducted by Wessex Archaeology prior to redevelopment of the former County Hospital site in the SW corner of the Roman town of Dorchester. The fieldwork took place intermittently between October 2000 and December 2001. The excavations revealed a sequence of structures, associated features and deposits which document development of this part of the town from the 1st century AD until the early 5th century. Notable features include a 4th century probable courtyard development incorporating a town house with fine mosaics, and a large aisled building possibly a barn or storehouse. A dispersed coin hoard is though to relate to the destruction of the aisled building in the early 5th century. Evidence for pre-Roman activity was limited to a single hollow sealed beneath 'pre-town' soils. The few post-Roman remains relate to medieval and post-medieval robbing of building stone from Roman structures. Modern features relating to landscape gardening of the site and expansion of the former hospital in the 20th century were also present. The development programme ran into financial difficulties, resulting in considerable delay to archive completion and post-excavation work. Further funding has now been obtained, although it is limted and places severe constraints on the scope of the post-excavation and publication programme. This post-excavation assessment report has been prepared as an internal document to summarise the main findings of the excavation, to define the form of publication attainable within the available resources, and to guide subsequent specialist analysis, reporting and publication. The report concludes that the site will be reported in 'popular book' format. The main conclusions of a series of specialist analyses will be integrated into an academically sound but accessible and well-illustrated account of the site sequence and its place in the development of the Roman town. the full specialist analytical reports and catalogues will be made available on-line.