Monument record MDO19093 - County Police Station, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester; Roman burials

(SY69038999) Present site of Southern Wall of Police Barracks. Here in 1893 in digging foundations were found three graves. In one was a jar and a remarkable two handled cup: Dorset Museum xiii-R68, and two Roman coins one being a first brass of Faustina junior seemingly. The other graves are probably modern; one contained a screw driver and the other a sharp pointed foil. <3>

SY69038999. Five extended skeletons were found during the construction of a new single-quarters wing at the Police barracks. They are matched by burials found by H St George Gray during the excavations of Maumbury Rings and by earlier discoveries at the barracks. They indicate a cemetery of simple graves flanking the Roman road to Radipole. No burials later than the 2nd cent AD are known from this cemetry - all are inhumations. One burial was examined and contained two 1st century fibulae. One burial was in a stone cist, the remainder in cut out graves. <4>

The siting was confirmed by Supt. Swateridge. The area is covered by a modern building. <5>

<1> Anon, 1859, 'Further Discoveries of Roman Remains' Dorset County Chronicle (Article in serial). SDO9815.

<2> Anon, 1859, 'Discovery of Urns, Coins, and Skeletons, at Malmbury Rings'. Dorset County Chronicle (Article in serial). SDO9816.

<3> Acland, J E, Private 1 to 25 inch scale map and index, 1904-1932 (Map). SDO19853.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1953, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1952, 97 (Serial). SDO52.

<6> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 01-SEP-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 580, no. 220b (Monograph). SDO150.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452131 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:36PM