Monument record MDO2736 - Burials at Whitesheet Hill, Toller Fratrum

Several inhumations were found in September 1950 during topsoil stripping for an extension to the chalk pit on Whitesheet Hill. Two skeletons found on the north west side of the old workings were reported as being oriented east-west and are in the Dorset County Museum. It was reported that four or five graves were found at depths varying from one to five feet. No grave goods were recorded. These burials are thought likely to be a small Romano-British cemetery.

SY 585980. Several inhumations found in September 1950 during extension of chalkpit by a mechanical excavator stripping topsoil to a depth of 18 inches. There were no recorded grave goods. In this part of Dorset unaccompanied inhumation in flat cemeteries that are dated by association with burials with
grave goods have usually been Romano-British. Two of the skeletons found on the northwest side of the old workings were orientated east-west and are in the Dorset County Museum. It is said that four or five graves were found varying in depth from one to five feet. (1)

[SY 52529801] Two skeletons found 27-9-1950. (2)

Two skeletons were found without associated grave goods about 1 foot below surface level in 1950 & removed to the Dorset Co. Museum. "I was present at the excavation". (3)

SY 58539802 Mr CARVER pointed out the site of the finds referred to in T.2 where surface removal of chalk is now taking place. The area was investigated but no further finds were made. (4)

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1953, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1952, 100-101 (Serial). SDO52.

<2> Annotated Record Map 6 (Dorset County Museum), Pte. 6" Dorset Co Museum (C.N. Goodman Asst. Curator) (Map). SWX2545.

<3> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 10-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<4> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F2 GCS 10-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<5> Carver, H W, 1955, Oral: HW Carver Foreman of Chalkpit 10.1.55 (Verbal communication). SDO17952.

<6> Meaney, A L, 1964, A Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon burial sites, 82 (Bibliographic reference). SWX4310.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450658 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 12 2022 12:31PM