Monument record MDO18962 - Poundbury Bronze Age Infant Burial C455

A single discrete isolated burial was found near the eastern edge of Site C during the excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, undertaken by Christopher Sparey Green between 1966-1979. The crouched burial of an infant was found within an oval grave cut into the foundation trench of Middle Bronze Age Structure BA1. No Grave goods were found. This burial has been assigned to the Bronze Age on the basis of its location within a concentration of Middle Bronze Age activity.

A single discrete isolated burial was found near the eastern edge of Site C during the excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, undertaken by Christopher Sparey Green between 1966-1979 (1) (2).

An irregular oval grave 0.3m long and 0.2m wide and about 0.35m deep contained the body of a neonate, placed on its right side with the legs drawn up and its head to the NE. No grave goods were found (2). The grave was cut into the foundation trench of Middle Bronze Age Structure BA1 and lay just outside the eastern side of Bronze Age Structure BA2. This burial is poorly dated, but is later than the construction of the Middle Bronze Age Structure BA1. It has been assigned to the Bronze Age on the basis of its location within a concentration of Middle Bronze Age activity.

<1> Sparey Green, C, 1987, Excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset 1966-1982. Volume 1: The Settlements (Monograph). SDO9630.

<2> Farwell, D E and Molleson, T I, 1993, Excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset 1966-1980. Volume II: The Cemeteries, 6 (Monograph). SDO9538.

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

Record last edited

Feb 15 2007 10:53AM