Monument record MDO47774 - Shale working site, Povington

Occupation from a lathe-turned shale industry has been found on the farm North of the chalk range on London Clay or Bagshot Beds at Povington. In 1856 and 1859, ca. 700 cores of five varieties, including Calkins classes A-D were discovered over an area of about 1/2 acre. The majority come from a keyhole excavation in the densest part of the scatter. <1-2>

Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 179 (Index). SDO147.

‘This site, exact location unknown, is situated on heathland in use by the army as a firing range. 7/7/C.’

<1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1859, The Archaeological Journal, 299-300 (Serial). SDO18953.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3 (Monograph). SDO150.

'(44) Povington Farm (SY 88 SE). Occupation Debris from a lathe-turned shale armlet industry has been found on the farm N. of the Chalk range, presumably on London Clay or Bagshot Beds.

Following an earlier discovery of large quantities of waste cores from turned shale armlets in draining an irregular undulating field said to have foundations below surface, excavation by J. H. Austen in 1856 and 1859 produced from an area of some 2 sq. yds. of black earth about 700 cores of five varieties including Calkin's classes A, B, C and D, some with incompletely detached rings, and many broken armlets. Circular blanks, shale chips and flint tools were found, and a hand-cut shale dish or lamp-stand (in D.C.M.); 'black Roman pottery' occurred. Finds were made over an area of about ½ acre. (Purbeck Papers I (1856–60), 90–1, 221–3; Arch. J. XVI (1859), 299–300; Hutchins I, 560–2; Dorset Procs. LXXV (1953), 67, 69.)'

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 887595 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2024 1:31PM