Monument record MDO2894 - Romano-British burials at Crofts, West Stafford

Two burials were found in a field called Crofts around 1850. Reports described them as found near the skeleton of a horse and other animal bones. Finds included a bowl of samian ware with one of the burials, and vessels of coarse Durotrigian pottery with the other.

Report by Rev C. W. BINGHAM of several Roman fictile vessels recently discovered. They are of dark brown ware except for a saucer of samian which was apparently found between the legs of a skeleton. The others were close to another skeleton. Animal bones were found near. The finds lay near the surface, on top of a line of hills about 1/4 of a mile south of the railroad and Rectory house. <1>

Roman pottery found 20 yards from a barrow. <2>

'RB pottery & Samian saucer with animal bones found "in a field called Crofts, to the N of Stafford Farm House on the hill ... There is a barrow not far distant from the spot". <4>

Pottery exhibited as described in the Dorset Co Museum from this site comprise of a pedestal jar of late BELGIC type, two jars 1st c. AD native ware - & a bowl of similar period and a SAMIAN saucer form 22, mid 1st c. Accession Nos. 1852.2.2-6. <5>

The field at [SY 72528895] is know as CROFTS. "I have no knowledge of any finds". <6>

[SY 72428902] The field was under advanced crop at the time of field investigation & was not perambulated. Siting plotted from information contained in T.1. in conjuction with T.6. <7>

<1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1852, Archaeological Journal 9, 93 (Serial). SDO20312.

<2> Goldesbrough, P, Rec. 6 inch P Goldesbrough, Refs to: Arch. J., IX, 93 (Map). SWX1764.

<3> M, V, Field Investigator's comments VM, 07-AUG-52 (Verbal communication). SDO20313.

<4> Rivet, A L F, Annotated record map 6", 21-MAY-53 (Map). SDO17443.

<4.1> Drew, C D, Colonel Drew's Index, Dorset County Museum (Index). SDO18316.

<5> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F2 GCS 18-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<6> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F3 GCS 19-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<6.1> Osman, Mrs, Oral: Mrs Osman (farmer), Stafford Farm (Verbal communication). SDO20314.

<7> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F4 GCS 19-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<8> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 608 (Monograph). SDO150.

'(25) CROFTS (SY 78 NW). Inhumation Burials were found c.1850 above the 200 ft. contour on Upper Chalk (724890). Of two burials found near the 'skeleton of a horse' and other animal bones, about 20 yds, from a barrow (Round Barrows, Stafford, West, (18)) in the field called Crofts S. of Parsonage Plantation, one had a samian bowl (form 22) of the 1st century A.D. apparently placed between the legs; the other was near five vessels of Durotrigian coarse ware. The Vessels are in D.C.M. (Arch. J. IX (1852), 93; Hutchin II, 517.)'

<9> Whimster, Rowan, 1981, Burial practices in Iron Age Britain: a discussion and gazetteer of the evidence c 700 BC-AD 43, 259 (Monograph). SDO17451.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453978 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 22 2023 4:06PM