SDO15164 - 30 Trinity Street, Dorchester, Dorset. An Archaeological Watching Brief

‘Context One Archaeological Services ltd (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Watching Brief during the groundworks on a new rear extension to the La Gondola Restaurant at 30 Trinity Street, Dorchester, Dorset (NGR centred on SY 69162 90555) between the 7th and the 15th of June 2006. The project was commissioned and funded by Brian Sellars Associates on behalf of their client, Mr Tombolani. … Monitoring of the foundation trenches revealed a substantial Romano-British demolition deposit relating to the destruction of a building form this period. The deposit incorporated a large assemblage of clay roof tile fragments and other building debris as well as a significant quantity of pottery dating from the 1st to the 4th centuries AD. A number of wall plaster fragments, many with red paint still evident, was additionally recovered from the demolition horizons. A coin of Tetricus I (AD 270-273) and a grooved bone handle of a knife were the only distinctive special finds. The pottery evidence would suggest a 4th century date for the final demolition of the building and this fits well with the general decline of Durnovaria that occurred towards the end of the Roman administration. Undoubtedly, the most significant find was part of a tessellated pavement and mosaic. The mosaic is a Geometrico type with outer borders forming both a guilloche pattern and wave-crest design. Only a small portion of the central roundel was evident and the motif could not be identified as this lay outside the foundation trenches. Based on structural evidence from other sites in close proximity, the floor probably furnished a room of a well appointed town house that fronted onto the western side of a street beneath the present restaurant. The north-south aligned wall, which bordered the tessellated pavement would have formed part of the eastern wall to this room. A west-east orientated wall on the northern side of the floor was indicated by the layout of the mosaic but outside the development area. However, by comparison with contemporary examples from the region, this mosaic is considered to be of mediocre quality and probably dates to the late 3rd century (Cosh, pers. Comm.) The floor is also not unique in Dorchester and represents the 66the of its type at the time of discovery.’