Monument record MDO19299 - Christchurch Priory buttress; medieval cist burial

An archaeological watching brief during buttress foundation investigations at Christchurch Priory, Christchurch, in 2006, revealed a medieval cist burial in a rubble sarcophagus of 12th-16th century form at a depth of c. 1.8m below ground level. The buttress is later than the burial and all the ground in the vicinity of the buttress is likely to have been intensively disturbed by recurrent overlapping graves.

ASI Heritage Consultants conducted an archaeological watching brief during buttress foundation investigations at Christchurch Priory, Christchurch, in 2006. The following description is derived from an unpublished client report (1).

The investigations uncovered a medieval cist burial in a rubble sarcophagus of 12th-16th century form at a depth of c. 1.8m below ground level. The grave contained a supine skeleton with head to the west. The contents of the sarcophagus were left undisturbed. The grave occupied most of the 2m x 1m trial pit, but excavation westwards exposed a dark brown cemetery soil containing disarticulated human remains. The grave appeared to have cut the cemetery soil. The buttress is later than the burial and all the ground in the vicinity of the buttress is likely to have been intensively disturbed by recurrent overlapping graves.

Observations during investigations of an adjacent buttress revealed two further cist burials thought to be 9th-12th century in date. It is possible then that this burial is also earlier.

<1> Heaton, M, 2006, Christchurch Priory Dorset (SM 22962). Buttress Foundation Investigations: Archaeological Watching Brief, April 2006 (Unpublished document). SDO10126.

<2> Heaton, M, 2007, Christchurch Priory, Christchurch, Dorset; Buttress Investigations January 2007 (Unpublished document). SDO10211.

Record last edited

Sep 20 2012 10:42AM