Monument record MDO18393 - Poundbury Late Roman East Peripheral Burial Group

The Late Roman east peripheral burial group was discovered immediately east of the main Late Roman cemetery, on Sites D and G of the 1966-1979 excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester. This cemetery was established within the late Roman enclosure 1 and may have had its origins as a burial ground associated with the Late Roman settlement within enclosure 1. Eighty-nine late Roman graves were found, containing 90 inhumations and three cremations. The majority of graves were oriented N-S. The difference in alignment, coupled with the range of accompanying grave goods, especially the presence of hobnails, made this burial group easy to distinguish from the ordered rows of generally unaccompanied graves in the main late Roman cemetery to the west. The graves in this group were generally of rectangular plan, evidence for wooden coffins was found in 51 of the graves and two contained stone cists. The burials were mainly in the extended supine position although five prone burials were also encountered and a single crouched inhumation. Grave goods were found in eighteen grave, with hobnails being particularly common. Burial in this cemetery probably continued throughout the 3rd and into the 4th century AD. The layout of the eastern peripheral cemetery is one of distinct clusters of graves, which probably represent family plots.

Found during the excavations directed by Christopher Sparey Green, for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, between 1966 and 1979 during development of the Grove Trading Estate on the eastern slopes of Poundbury Camp, Dorchester (1). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report and archive (1) (2).

The eastern peripheral burial group was located to the east of the main Late Roman cemetery on Sites D and F. It could be clearly differentiated from the main cemetery immediately to the east, by the difference of orientation of the graves and the range of grave goods, particularly the presence of hobnails. The majority of the 89 graves were aligned N-S with a group of graves aligned E-W at the southern end. It is noticeable that this cemetery comprises of distinct clusters of graves, the largest of which contained over 25 inhumations and three cremations, which probably represent discrete family plots. A total of 90 inhumations and three cremations were excavated from this burial group: two burials were not fully excavated and seven contained additional loose bone.

The graves were generally of rectangular plan with rounded corners and vertical sides containing single extended inhumations. The graves were generally aligned either parallel (N-S) or perpendicular (E-W) to the boundary between late Roman enclosures 1 and 2. Evidence for wooden coffins was found in 51 of the graves and two contained stone cists. Grave [456] was lined with limestone blocks and capped with a shale slab and Grave [1114] had a limestone roof tile cist, containing a wooden coffin: both burials were of infants.

The graves contained the skeletons of 28 adult males, 20 adult females, 35 children and 15 of unknown age or sex. Two graves remained unexcavated and one was found not to contain a skeleton. The high number of infant burials is partly due to the inclusion of 10 infant burials from within Late Roman structure R16. The burials were generally in the extended supine position with arms either straight by the sides or flexed with the forearms laid diagonally over the lower abdomen and with the heads to the south or east. Five burials were prone. Grave [498] contained the only crouched late Roman burial from the entire site.

Twenty-two graves contained grave goods. Hobnails were found in 18 graves. Interestingly, the position of the hobnails in three of the graves indicated that boots could be included as a discrete deposition in graves as well as being worn on the feet. Two burials, both of adult females, had partial animal skeletons deposited with them. Copper alloy objects were recovered from two adult female burials. Iron knives accompanied two further adult female burials. Bone pins, bone bracelet, shale spindle whorls and necklaces of jet and glass beads were recovered from other burials. Pottery grave goods of 4th century AD date were recovered from two adult male graves.

The stratigraphic relationships and the coin dating of the graves suggests that burial in this part of the cemetery probably continued throughout the 3rd and into the 4th century AD, contemporary with at least the later use of structure R16 and may have its origins as a cemetery associated with the settlement within enclosure 1.

<1> Farwell, D E and Molleson, T I, 1993, Excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset 1966-1980. Volume II: The Cemeteries (Monograph). SDO9538.

<2> Sparey Green, C, 1966-1979, Poundbury, Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10096.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2010 6:58AM