Monument record MDO47741 - Burial found near Blandford

A cremation in a pot with a spearhead and an object described as a "brass helmet" were ploughed up near Blandford some time before 1758. Thought possibly to be of Bronze Age date. The exact findspot is not known.

Ploughed up near Blandford; an urn containing a cremation, among which was the head of a javelin or spear. This was 28" long, the socket 3 1/4" in diameter, and the object weighed 13 1/2 lbs. Also in the vessel was a brass helmet, decayed but curiously wrought. Diameter 12 3/4", weight nearly 11lbs.

A curious discovery, although the account cannot be relied upon where there is reference to weights and measurements. <1>

The above report is obviously inaccurate and garbled, though the salient features, an urn cremation, a spearhead, and some bronze object are perhaps correct, and these may have been found near to each other. No information was obtained on the provenance of these objects or their present location. <2>

<1> Warne, C, 1866, The Celtic Tumuli of Dorset (1866), 2 (Monograph). SWX8166.

<1.1> 1758, The Gentleman's Magazine, 500 (Serial). SDO20452.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 09-DEC-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205451 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 15 2024 10:52AM