Monument record MDO18398 - Poundbury Late Roman Northern Peripheral Burial Group

The Late Roman northern peripheral burial group was discovered immediately north of the main Late Roman cemetery, on Sites E and F of the 1966-1979 excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester and from the 1986 observations on the Poundbury Pipe-line by Wessex Archaeology. The graves of this burial group were distinguished from those of the main Late Roman cemetery by their more random orientation, greater size variation and frequent occurence of grave goods. It comprised 36 graves, of which 21 were aligned on the northern boundaries of enclosures 2 and 3 and partially filled the western end of enclosure 1. The graves were oriented both E-W and N-S, with no particular preference for head orientation. The graves in this group were generally of rectangular plan with evidence for wooden coffins in 26 of them. The burials were generally in the extended supine position. Gravegoods were found in twenty-two graves, with hobnails being particularly common and deposits of animal bone present in nine graves. This northern peripheral cemetery was in use during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD and seems to represent a group of late Roman pagan burials.

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) and during observations on the Poundbury Pipe-line by Wessex Archaeology in 1986 (2). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published reports and archive (1)(2)(3).

In the area to the north of the main Late Roman cemetery at Poundbury, in the NE part of Site E, within the northern end of enclosures 1, 2 and 3, the graves were more random in orientation and varied in size and the burials were often accompanied with grave goods. This burial group comprised 36 graves, of which 21 were aligned on the northern boundaries of enclosures 2 and 3 and partially filled the western end of enclosure 1.

The graves of this group were of single burials and generally of rectangular plan with near vertical sides. Graves [1248], [1310] & [1408] had ledges against their southern edges and grave [1349] had a shallow step around all but its head end. The graves were on average 2.35m long, 1.1m wide and 0.75m deep. This shows a marked increase in grave size (but not depth) in comparison with the main late Roman cemetery. The orientation of the graves seems to be taken from the surrounding enclosure ditches, with 17 aligned approximately N-S and 18 E-W. There was no particular preference for head orientation.

Evidence for wooden coffins was found in 26 of the 33 excavated graves. The plan of coffin nails in grave [1248] and [1312] may be consistent with a wood lined grave-pit or vault into which a separate coffin was placed.

The burials were found to contain the skeletons of 11 adult males, 11 adult females, two unsexed adults and six children. Three graves remained unexcavated and skeletons were not found in a further three. The skeletons were in the extended supine position generally with arms by the sides and the forearms diagonally across the lower abdomen. In some cases the legs were slightly flexed at the knees. Some burials were placed towards the side of the graves and the space may have been utilised for the deposition of perishable grave goods. The high proportion of hobnailed burials and the informal postures may suggest that the bodies were clothed but not shrouded. Burial [1354] has the appearance of having slumped to one end of the coffin during uneven lowering.

Grave goods accompanied 22 of the 33 excavated burials, the most numerous type being hobnails, found in 17 graves. Offerings of whole or part animals were next commonest, including five of chicken bones and four of sheep/goat. A nine year old had two copper alloy rings on its fingers and a seven year old had a copper alloy brooch at its left shoulder. The grave of a four year old had a New Forest indented beaker to the left of its head and burial [1421] had a Black-burnished Ware straight walled dish.

The stratigraphic evidence and the grave good suggest that this northern peripheral cemetery was in use during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. It seems to represent a group of late Roman pagan burials around the boundaries of extra-mural back plots, similar to burials found in the suburbs of Roman Ilchester (1).

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

<2> Davies, S M and Grieve, D, 1986, 'The Poundbury pipe-line: Archaeological Observations and Excavations', Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO9537.

<3> Sparey Green, C, 1966-1979, Poundbury, Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10096.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2010 6:58AM