Monument record MDO2285 - Roman building at Walls Field, Puncknowle

Roman coin hoards have been found in Walls Field in 1791 and around 1850. In 1964 a trial trench revealed Romano-British pottery and coins. Excavations in 1965-8 on the other side of the field boundary in a field called Ballyhay uncovered the foundations of an apsed building. Because of a lack of hearths and other features characteristic of settlement, this building was interpreted as a late Roman shrine or temple. Some evidence of Durotrigian use of the site has also been found.

A hoard of 1200 coins in an "earthen vessel" was ploughed up in 1791 in a field called "Walls", according to Hutchins, who also records a second jar containing many coins being ploughed up near the Knoll about 1850. It has now been established that this hoard was also found in Walls field, and 105 coins from it, ranging from Gallienus to Carausius I, are in the Dorset County Museum. <1>

The field commonly known as Walls is actually in two parts, Upper Walls and Lower Walls, centred SY 5405 8745. It has been under grass for many years. <2>

A trial trench dug in the field in 1964, about 20 yards from the south boundary, revealed late Romano-British pottery and some 4th century coins, and suggested that a Romano-British occupation level had been destroyed by medieval ploughing. Excavations in 1965-8 at SY 5399 8730 on the other side of the boundary wall, in the field called Ballyhay which generally lies about 2 feet higher than Walls, revealed the foundations of an apsed building, believed, from the shape of the enclosure and the absence of contra-indications such as hearths and food remains, to have been possibly a late Roman shrine or temple. Finds include over 100 3rd and 4th century coins, an engraved cornelian ring-stone bearing the intaglio figure of a marine centaur blowing a wind instrument and holding a trident in the crook of his arm, and ornaments of iron and bronze. A Durotrigian silver coin was found at a relatively low level and early occupation of the site was confirmed by the discovery in 1967 of a crouched burial about 30 yards north of the Roman yielding. It was accompanied by a Durotrigian bead-rimmed bowl, an upright rimmed jar and a possibly iron shield boss. <3-6>

Part of the site was excavated 1965-9. Its nature is enigmatic, it obviously being an important focus for local activity, perhaps religious in the late C4th AD, but its exact function in unknown. All of the enclosure walls are of drystone construction using Forest Marble limestone, locally derived. The impression is of a more sophisticated equivalent elswhere, an eqivalent unknown in Britain or on the Continent. <8>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 07-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2.1> Trivett, A, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Mr A Trivett Foreman Puncknowle Manor Estate (Verbal communication). SWX1639.

<3> Dewar, H S L, Letter and photo: H S L Dewar, 7.10.65 (Verbal communication). SDO19732.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1966, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1965, 90-91 (Serial). SDO65.

<5> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1967, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1966, 107-108 (Serial). SDO66.

<6> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1969, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1968, 167-168, 230-231 (Serial). SDO68.

<7> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1982, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1980, 105 (Serial). SDO80.

<8> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1986, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1985, 55-86 (Serial). SDO85.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AO2209 (Index). SDO14738.

A rough sketch plan of a possible polygonal temple at Puncknowle, Dorset

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ORD01/01 (Index). SDO14738.

Ordnance Survey: Portfolios. 73 folios with a wide range of material, from original surveys to copies of old maps, acquired from the Ordnance Survey in 1983. Listed and rehoused 1992-93. Includes prints taken in 1995 of Stonehenge and Clausentum plans. Folio numbers: AO 1 - AO 2308

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450514 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 13 2023 12:19PM