Monument record MDO19179 - Albert Road, Dorchester; Roman grave 98

Grave 59 was one of a number of Roman graves revealed during an excavation by Wessex Archaeology in the garden of 8 Albert Road, Dorchester in 1986. The grave was aligned N-S and contained the prone extended inhumation of an adolescent aged 14-17 years, with the head to the north, with coffin nails positioned around the body indicating the former presence of a wooden coffin copper alloy intaglio ring of 3rd century AD date was found near the foot area of the skeleton. The grave probably dates to the late 3rd or 4th century AD.

Grave 98 was one of a number of Roman graves revealed during an excavation by Wessex Archaeology in the garden of 8 Albert Road, Dorchester in 1986 (1) (2). The grave was aligned N-S and contained the supine extended inhumation of an adolescent aged 14-17 years, with the head to the north. It contained coffin nails positioned around the body indicating the former presence of a wooden coffin. A copper alloy intaglio ring of 3rd century AD date was found near the foot area of the skeleton.

The grave was one of three graves (together with Graves 31 and 59) on a similar orientation and are perhaps the earliest graves on the site. The precise date of the burial is not known, but it cuts through a deposit containing mid-late 3rd century material, suggesting a late 3rd or 4th century date for the grave.

National Monuments Record, NMR Monument Record, SY 69 SE 356 (Index). SDO9937.

Wessex Archaeology, 1986, 8 Albert Road, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10109.

<1> Stacey, L C, 1986, The Excavation and Record of Romano-British Cemeteries at Albert Road, Cornwall Road and Hawthorn Lodge, Dorchester (Unpublished document). SDO9861.

<2> Stacey, L C, 1986, 'The Excavation of Burials at 8 Albert Road, Dorchester; Interim Report' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 184 (Article in serial). SDO9858.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:37PM