Monument record MDO18028 - Maiden Castle Road square burial enclosure 02252

A square enclosure defined by a shallow ditch containing a single flexed inhumation burial in a grave in the centre, accompanied by two iron strips, and a shallow burial cut into the ditch containing fragments of an infant and an adult.

Found during the excavations to the north of Maiden Castle Road undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 1987 in advance of the Dorchester By-pass construction. The following description is abstracted from the final published report on the site (1). The numbers in square brackets refer to context numbers quoted in the report.

This monument comprises a near-square ditched enclosure [02252] at least 10.5m wide internally. The enclosing ditch was shallow (between 0.1-0.2m deep) with an uneven base. Near the centre of the enclosure was a rectangular grave [02250]. This was aligned almost east-west, but not parallel to the enclosure ditch. The grave was 1.9m long, 1.35m wide and 0.35m deep and contained the flexed skeleton of an adult with the head to the west. Above the head and below the feet were two iron strips, perhaps coffin fittings.

A shallow grave was also cut into the ditch near the northwest corner. This contained fragments of an infant and an adult.

There is no secure dating for this burial enclosure. Six sherds of Black-burnished ware pottery were recovered from the ditch. Stratigraphically the enclosure is earlier than features associated with the late Roman cemetery also found on this site. Therefore, this burial is probably not related to the later cemetery.<1>

SY 676 894 (FCE) A rapid examination of air photography suggests the presence of a number of features, including rectilinear enclosures, linear features and pits, possibly of Prehistoric or Roman date, visible in the process of being excavated to the north of Maiden Castle, c.150m northeast of Bush Road Cottages. <2>

National Record of the Historic Environment, 983909 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Wessex Archaeology, 1987, Dorchester By-pass (Excavation archive). SDO9385.

Woodward, P J and Smith, R J C, 1987, Survey and excavation along the route of the Southern Dorchester By-pass, 1986-1987 – an interim note, 79-89 (Article in serial). SDO9381.

<1> Smith, R J C et al, 1997, Excavations along the Route of the Dorchester By-pass, Dorset, 1986-8, 56-70 (Monograph). SDO9379.

<2> Miller, Andrew, 1993, RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project, 12-FEB-1993 (Unpublished document). SWX1708.

<2.1> Boyden, J R, JRB 3421: 07-8, 10, 16; JRB 3425: 16, 18-30 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20335.

Record last edited

Dec 6 2023 8:29PM