Monument record MDO47806 - Late prehistoric burials, Higher Ground, Corton, Portesham

A cist containing inhumations and pottery was found in 1765 in a field called Higher Ground at Corton. Several inhumanations were recorded 18 inches below the ground level, orientated northeast-southwest. Alongside the skeletons were seven or eight vessels.

In 1765, whilst digging chalk in a field called Higher Ground at Corton Mr John Thresher found several human skeletons, 18" below ground level, lying NE-SW and enclosed within a cist. Alongside the skeletons were seven or eight crude vessels, some with lugs. They held about a pint and a half and one is illustrated as barrel shaped. Two other vessels, red, and of finer texture with some sort of characters on them, were also found with the previous vessels, and of similar size. Both are since lost. <1>

(No mention of the red vessels as beakers in list of beakers from Wessex). <2>

There is no field on the estate in Portesham Parish which is now called Higher Ground. The land at Portesham was purchased by the Estate only about 50 years ago and we are not in a position to look back at any old records. <3>

The field called Higher Ground was not found during investigation. The vicar of Portisham was contacted. Tithe Maps for the parish are normally kept at the Vicarage, but are temporarily with the Tithe Commissioners in London. <4>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 761-2 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Piggott, S, 1938, 'The Early Bronze Age in Wessex'; Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society (Article in serial). SDO10120.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 07-AUG-1954 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<3.1> Hutchings, C D, Oral: C D Hutchings, Clerk of Works, Strangways Estates Ltd, Abbotsbury, Letter 6 August 1954 (Verbal communication). SDO19778.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 15-APR-1955 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452396 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2024 10:42AM