AERIAL photographs show how archaeologists are unveiling a Roman settlement near Dorchester.

The excavation at Poundbury has uncovered burials including one in a stone coffin.

And the burials were probably pagan, even though Roman Dorchester was Christian by then.

Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick of Wessex Archaeology said the site - earmarked for development as part of Prince Charles's Poundbury - was shedding light on how people lived and farmed in Roman times.

But the setting, in a rural location away from the large Christian cemetery that served Roman Dorchester, suggested the burials could have been pagan.

He said the excavation revealed a modest working farm complete with compound yards and paddocks. Dark lines in the chalk show a pattern where hedges had marked out the enclosed areas.

He said: "This will tell us more about how people lived and worked in that sort of settlement. We actually know quite a lot about Roman villas and town houses in the Dorchester area but not so much about more modest rural settlements. This will help build up the picture.

"Although it is not far from the Roman town of Dorchester it forms a contrast to urban life. I think it's most likely that these burials were pagan."

Dr Fitzpatrick said archaeologists were expected to be on site for another five weeks.

Finds such as animal bones and the rubbish thrown into pits would be analysed by experts in the laboratory. The archaeologists hope to be able to discover how many people lived on the settlement and to establish its date, initially thought to be third or fourth century. Other features relating to pre-Roman settlement had also been found.

The photos show a haul road created by archaeologists to move soil crossing the site and cutting through a hedge.

The stone coffin was excavated from a point close to the haul road and to the right of the hedge.

Dr Fitzpatrick said the field surface would be restored for one or two more seasons of arable use before development was expected.

A final report would be published, probably in the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society's journal. Any finds would be given to Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.