More information : (SU 577942) Roman Town (R) (1)
Dorchester-on-Thames occupies the site of a small Roman walled
town (c 13 1/2 acres), of unknown name, the defences of which are
still partly visible as denuded bank and ditch. It was planned
in 1935-6 and the earthwork sectioned (2). Excavations by Frere
(3) in 1962 revealed possible evidence of a Belgic settlement,
represented by coins and pottery, but this was associated with
Claudian type pottery and may be a native settlement. Timber framed
buildings were in evidence in the 1st and C2nd. Pottery starting
about 80 AD continues to the early C5th when some sort of Roman troops were in occupation. Saxon pottery of late C5th follows and a
Saxon hut is dated about mid C6th, followed by C9th and C10th occupation. The defences began as a rampart of earth of about AD 185, with a wall added in front about AD 270-290. There was a V-shaped ditch contemporary with the rampart which was succeeded by a flat bottomed ditch of C4th pattern, however it may have been contemporary with the wall (3). Rescue excavations in 1972 confirmed the alignment of the western and northern defences at Beech House Hotel, and uncovered evidence of three phases of Saxon timber dwellings dating from C5th to C9th in the North East corner of the town. At Old Castle Inn the eastern defences were not located but C1st military type buildings and Saxon Grubenhauser were revealed (4, 5). A short length of Roman road is shown pointing south east of the town, on the plan (3). (2-5)
Excavations confirmed occupation at Dorchester between C1st and C10th, with an almost complete absence of prehistoric pottery and other artefacts in residual contexts. These excavations contributed little to the question of the eastern defences. Two phases of activity within the Roman period are indicated in this area of Dorchester. (6)
Excavation has confirmed the line of Dorchester's northern defences with a trench dug across the former town wall. (7,8) |