Monument record MDO18353 - Rear of Dorchester Police Station; Roman burial

A single Roman coffined inhumation burial was discovered during a watching brief on land behind Dorchester Police Station by Wessex Archaeology in 2005. The burial was of an adult ?female aged c. 40-55 years old extended inhumation, oriented roughly SW-NE, with hobnails near the right foot. Fifteen coffin nails were found in the grave indicating the former presence of a wooden coffin. This burial formed part of a Roman cemetery along the Roman road to Radipole, many other burials having been found previously on the site of the Police Station and adjacent to Maumbury Rings.

A single Roman burial was discovered during a watching brief on land behind Dorchester Police Station by Wessex Archaeology in 2005. The burial was of an adult ?female aged c. 40-55 years old extended inhumation, oriented roughly SW-NE, though the precise position and orientation of the body was not recorded. A group of 17 iron hobnails was recovered in association with the right foot. Fifteen coffin nails were found in the grave indicating the former presence of a wooden coffin. No precise dating evidence was recovered, but the presence of hobnails indicates a Roman date for this burial.

This burial formed part of a Roman cemetery along the Roman road to Radipole, many other burials having been found previously on the site of the Police Station and adjacent to Maumbury Rings.

Parry, D, 2006, Land at the Rear of Dorchester Police Station. Archaeological Watching Brief Report. (Unpublished document). SDO10016.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:29PM