SDO9857 - Wollaston Field, Dorchester, Excavations and Observations 1987-1988

A Wessex Archaeology report on the excavation of four trial pits, the observation of 31 bore holes and the observation of service trenches during the prior to and during the construction of the new Day Centre on Icen Way, Dorchester. The evaluation comprised the excavation of four testpits, of which three were within the scheduled area of the Roman Bath complex (SM Dorset 798). Trench A, adjacent to Icen Way in the NE corner of the site revealed post-medieval deposits and structures. Trench B revealed a tesselated floor beneath rubble deposits and soil buildup. Trench C at the eastern end of the site revealed remains of a Roman wall. Trench D revealed part of a Roman street. All the Roman features and deposits were sealed beneath a very thick layer of post-Roman soils. The observation of the bore holes revealed a possible Roman floor at the western end of the site and the observation of service trenches outside 46 Icen Way in July 1988. A series of structural levels and rubble to a depth of 1m were identified. A silty band, rich in charcoal, was recorded at the base of the trench (1.3m) at the centre of Icen Way. Chalk was not reached. Outside no. 46, at a depth of 1.28m was a layer of decayed mortar and wall plaster over 0.65m thick. This may be part of the infilling to quarry pits or ditch