Monument record MDO21886 - Beaker Burial, Land Adjacent to Bell Street, Swanage

A shallow rectangular feature was found during excavation at land off Bell Street, Swanage in 1996-7. This was associated with at least two phases of post holes, and dated by pottery to the beaker period (c. 2600-1800 BC). It is possible that these features formed part of a structure, possibly a grave.

Southern Archaeological Services (SAS) conducted an archaeological excavation of land adjacent to Bell Street, Swanage during April 1997 in advance of housing development and following a desk-based assessment and field evaluation undertaken by Wessex Archaeology. Further observations on groundworks associated with the development continued until June 1997. <3>

The initial evaluation revealed what was thought to be a ditch and a post hole containing beaker pottery <1, 2>. However, subsequent excavation demonstrated that it was actually a shallow rectangular feature, associated with at least two phases of post holes, and dated by pottery to the beaker period (c. 2600-1800 BC). It is possible that these features formed part of a structure of uncertain function, probably a grave.

Further, undated, post-holes were scattered over the surrounding area. All archaeological features were cut into a remnant of a natural deposit confined to a hollow between periglacial features. It is assumed that the bulk of this deposit, together with any other archaeological features, has been eroded either by natural agencies or by ploughing, or a combination of both.

All archaeological features were sealed by a layer of colluvium up to 0.85m thick and containing aretfacts ranging in date from the beaker period to Modern. A lynchet on the southern edge of the excavation area was composed of material indistinguishable from the colluvium. <3>

<1> Smith, R, 1996, 'Land Adjacent to Bell Street, Swanage' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO11364.

<2> Hutcheson, A, 1996, Land Adjacent to Bell Street, Swanage, Dorset. Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation (Unpublished document). SWX8551.

<3> Higgins, P, 1997, Summary report on an Archaeological Excavation on Land Adjacent to Bell Street, Swanage, Dorset. (Unpublished document). SWX8553.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1093355 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 14 2023 4:10PM