Monument record MDO18511 - Southfield House, Dorchester; Roman grave 066

Please read our .

Summary

Roman grave 066 was one of two graves found cut into an L-shaped ditch pre-dating the Roman town defences during evaluation excavation by Wessex Archaeology at Southfield House, Dorchester in 1987. It was aligned E-W and contained an extended adult female decapitated burial with the head placed between the feet. The presence of coffin nails suggest the burial was in a wooden coffin. No grave goods were present, but 2nd century AD pottery was found in the grave fill, giving a terminus post quem for the burial

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

Grave 066 was one of several possible Roman graves found during evaluation excavation by Wessex Archaeology at Southfield House, Dorchester in 1987. It was a shallow subrectangular grave aligned roughly E-W, cut 0.25m deep into the top of an L-shaped ditch of 2nd century AD date. This grave contained a single extended supine burial of a female aged c. 55-60 years, laid with the ‘head’ to the east and the arms crossed over the chest. The body had been decapitated and the skull, mandible and four vertebrae laid between the feet. The presence of coffin nails suggest the burial was in a wooden coffin. No grave goods were present, but 2nd century AD pottery was found in the grave fill, giving a terminus post quem for the burial.


<1> Davies, S M and Thompson, C N, 1987, Archaeological Evaluation at Southfield House, Dorchester (Unpublished document). SDO9489.

<2> Davies, S M and Thompson, C N, 1987, Archaeological Evaluation at Southfield House, Dorchester, Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 126-129 (Article in serial). SDO9490.

<3> Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1987, Southfield House, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10060.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1430939 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Davies, S M and Thompson, C N. 1987. Archaeological Evaluation at Southfield House, Dorchester.
  • <2> Article in serial: Davies, S M and Thompson, C N. 1987. Archaeological Evaluation at Southfield House, Dorchester, Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. 109. 126-129.
  • <3> Excavation archive: Trust for Wessex Archaeology. 1987. Southfield House, Dorchester.
  • <4> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1430939.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Location

Grid reference Centred SY 69278 90304 (3m by 1m)
Map sheet SY69SE
Civil Parish Dorchester; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Protected Status/Designation

Other Statuses/References

  • Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 041 553
  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 69 SE 366
  • Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1430939

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:29PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.