SDO9427 - 7-9 James Road, Dorchester, Dorset: Results of an archaeological trench evaluation

An archaeological evaluation for a proposed residential development at 7-9 James Road, Dorchester, was carried out by AC archaeology during August 2004. The evaluation consisted of the machine-excavation of a single L-shaped trench covering an area of 22.4 m2 in plan, and located in an area currently used as a car park. The trench was positioned in the footprint of the proposed new building. An east to west aligned linear feature was the only pre-modern subsoil feature identified. Small quantities of medieval pottery and prehistoric worked flint were recovered from its fill. The alignment and profile of the linear feature corresponds with ditches previously recorded during excavations at the adjacent Thomas Hardye School site, and interpreted there as evidence for an extensive medieval field system.