EDO4682 - Roman Cemetery, Fordington, Dorchester; field observation 1954

A (Area SY697906) A vague reference to a number of ancient graves, probably Roman, discovered in Salisbury Field (a). In late years during the laying out of the field as a playground, two Roman jars were found, and bones with them, it is believed. The jars are in the museum. B In 1839 while lowering the hill of High St Fordington more than 50 skeletons were found with Roman grave goods and the remains of nails indicating coffins. The site lies midway between the 1747 discovering and ‘D’. The churchyard is set in a great RB cemetery (3) C (SY69769064) (1) In 1788 skeletons of men, women, and children with a sword and other weapons were found a little west of the Pound. D (SY69779052) (1) In 1810 more than 100 inhumations, one with a coin of Hadrian, were found between 4 and 13 ft below the surface. Also urns ornamented with diagonal lines or waves (2). E (SY69769036) Burials found here in the 1880s (1). F (SY69719033) Two RB burials found c 1930 (1). In 1747 more than 200 skeletons were found 4-5ft below the surface near the Pound. (Pound Lane SY69819062). They were lying North-South and near one was a long sword; possibly from the plague of 1346. They were re-interred in the church yard.. G (SY69839033) Found beneath the porch in 1908; Roman tombstone (4). From the Roman cemetery at Fordington, found Feb 5th 1908, a Roman tombstone of Purbeck marble 35in by 28in by 6in. The top and bottom are broken off and the remainder has flaked but its inscription being translated would read ‘sacred to the memory of Carinus, a Roman citizen aged 50. Erected by his children Rufinus, Carina, Avita and his wife Romana’. Probably dated to the late 1st century. (5) A field survey was conducted on the site by J. Rigg. of the Ordnance Survey Archaeological Division on the 7 September 1954. His field notes are recorded on the OS record card as follows. ‘B’ could not be sited and neither could the 1747 discoveries though ‘B’ probably falls between a point 100.0m north west of ‘C’ and a point 50.0m South East of ‘C’ where the road is well below the level of the houses to the west. According to Authority 2, ‘C’ is a little west of the Pound so that the 1747 discoveries would be in that area. Upon the evidence produced for ‘E’ and ‘F’ no case is made for extending the limits of the cemetery to include them. The sites are all covered by playing fields, buildings, etc and no recent finds have been reported. The graveyard around the church has long since ceased to be used for burials. The Roman tombstone is fixed to the interior north wall of the church. [1]