Monument record MDO46159 - Iron Age/Romano-British inhumation cemetery, Herston, Swanage

Iron Age and Romano-British inhumation cemetery and settlement identified at Herston. Burials in cists, two pits and a floor were found, with finds dating from the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD. The extent of the cemetery is not known.

(Centred SZ 020782) Evidence of Iron Age 'A' to late Roman occupation was discovered by extensive quarrying about 1/2 mile due south of Newton Manor, Herston. Extended burials in cists probably belong to the latter phase. Two pits were examined, one containing some mixed types of pottery including Belgic ware. <1>

Sited at SZ 02057826 by J B Calkin. Mr Churchill stated that about 25 years ago more than a dozen skeletons (orientated approx. east-west) in stone coffins were found in the area centred SZ 02017831. There was a large quantity of black pottery in the same area. The siting at SZ 02057826 by Calkin probably refers to the pits referred to in Authy 1. The area is now a dumping ground for quarry waste. <2>

Circa SZ 021783. Inhumation burials and occupation debris dating from Iron Age 'A' to late Roman times have been found in quarrying at Herston. The site yielded haematite - coated and other Iron Age 'A' sherds, Iron Age 'C' and Roman sherds, a few handcut shale armlet roughs and cores from turned armlets. Of two pits examined in 1931, one contained Iron Age 'C' pottery. Several extended burials in stone cists side by side are referable to the Roman period. Some of the pottery is in Poole Museum. <5>

Four 'Iron Age' inhumations were found at the Priest's (Way) Caravan park, Swanage. <7>

SZ 020783. Excavation in advance of proposed levelling operations at Priest's (Way) Caravan park produced evidence of occupation dating from the 1st century BC to early 2nd century AD. Partly underlying two drystone walls, provisionally dated to the 1st or early 2nd century AD, were three adult inhumations each contained within a stone cists but without grave goods.

The only other structural evidence was that of a possible floor layer of compact clay and rubble containing pottery ranging from late 1st century AD together with food refuse and a few small lumps of iron slag.

The site has now been completely destroyed. Finds are in Poole Museum.<8>

Field report of the 1973 excavation and discussion of the cist burials in the context of Dorset. <10>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1949, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1948, 42 (Serial). SDO48.

<2> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 22-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<2.1> Calkin J B, 1948, Isle of Purbeck in the Iron Age (Article in serial). SWX1705.

<2.2> Churchill, H, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Mr H Churchill (Foreman) 239 The Terrace High St Swanage (Verbal communication). SWX8247.

<3> Various, Swanage Times, 17.10.53 (Serial). SWX3259.

<4> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1968 (Map). SWX1540.

(SZ 02017831) Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement Site (NAT)

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 612 (Monograph). SDO150.

<6> Daily Telegraph, 2.11.73 (Serial). SDO19734.

<7> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1974, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1973, 101 (Serial). SDO73.

<8> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1975, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1974, 54 (Serial). SDO74.

<10> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1982, 192-4 (Serial). SDO82.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457445 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 14 2023 4:45PM