Monument record MDO18695 - A37 Western Link; Durotrigian Grave 522

Evidence for a Durotrigian Grave was discovered during excavations along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link. Grave [522] was located within the northern part of Trench G/H cutting a pit on the northern edge of LIA/ER pit complex [528]. It measured 2.59m long x 1.65m wide, 0.30m deep and was aligned E-W. The burial was that of an adult male aged 35+, placed crouched on the right side facing north. The burial was unaccompanied by grave goods.

Found during a programme of archaeological work conducted by Wessex Archaeology along the route of the Dorchester By-pass, Western Link, Fordington Bottom, Dorchester between 1986 and 1988. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph; (DNHAS Monograph 11). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report (1).

24 graves or possible graves are assigned to this period, from which the remains of 15 skeletons were recovered. All are considered to be of Late Iron Age/Early Roman date on the basis of associated grave goods and the form of burial. The graves are spread over a distance of c. 150m through trenches G/H and K along the coombe side. 14 graves were concentrated around structure [929] in Trench K, the remainder occurring as isolated graves. No contemporary settlement structures were identified in the area at this time. Two almost parallel narrow gullies [910] & [989] may have formed a cemetery boundary. These gullies could not be traced into Trench G/H but followed the alignment of the graves and enclosed an area around structure [929].

The 15 skeletons recovered from the 24 graves comprised 5 male adults, 5 female adults, and 2 adults and 3 infants of indeterminate sex. There was no obvious fixed pattern of grave orientation except in the area of structure [929] where an E-W alignment predominated, suggesting an element of planning. All 5 male skeletons were aligned E-W, head to the east facing north. The 5 female skeletons were less regimented but there was a suggestion of SW-NE orientation, but with no consistent head position. 13 of the skeletons were crouched. None of the infants were buried adjacent to structure [929] and two were buried within features other than graves; keyhole oven [750] and sunken featured building [420].

Grave goods accompanied 11 of the 12 adult burials, although none occurred with infant burials. 4 graves contained BBW bowls of 1st century BC/AD date. A cluster of sherds NW of the skull in grave [916] may represent another grave good and a 1st century AD southern Gaulish Samian platter was found in grave [514]. 8 graves were accompanied by animal offerings, including three, which also had pottery vessels. 5 of these were the left foreleg of a foetal sheep/goat. Grave [555] had a post hole on either side and two iron rings in its upper fills, possibly connected with a grave marker.

Grave [522] was located within the northern part of Trench G/H cutting a pit on the northern edge of LIA/ER pit complex [528]. It measured 2.59m long x 1.65m wide, 0.30m deep and was aligned E-W. The burial was that of an adult male aged 35+, placed crouched on the right side facing north. The burial was unaccompanied by grave goods.

<1> Smith, R J C et al, 1997, Excavations along the Route of the Dorchester By-pass, Dorset, 1986-8, 203-223 (Monograph). SDO9379.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2007 3:47AM