Monument record MDO523 - Late Iron Age/Romano-British settlement, 17A Knighton Lane, Broadmayne

Excavation of a new vehicle inspection pit at 17A Knighton Lane revealed a deposit sequence some 1.6 metres thick over natural chalk. At the base of the sequence was a prehistoric flexed burial. Above this, around 0.4 metres of broken chalk and clayey loam was cut by part of a 'V' shaped ditch, approximately 2 metres wide and a metre in depth, containing pottery in its basal fill dating to the later third- or fourth century. The extent of any local settlemnent is unknown, but the ditch may indicate a substantial enclosure.

SY 726866 During building operations in October 1965 three Romano-British rubbish pits and various pottery sherds were found. Two skeletons were uncovered, one of which was a crouched burial accompanied by a shattered long-necked beaker. Black coarse ware, New Forest and Gallo-Belgic ware were recognised. Oyster shells, part of a limestone mortar, traces of charcoal ash, stones and possibly wattle and daub were also found. <1-3>

Building operations since 1965 have brought to light further traces of ancient occupation west of Rectory Road (centred SY 72658660). Although no buildings have been located, the site appears to have been a small native domestic settlement of the Roman period with Iron Age origins. A Durotrigian burial with C1st pottery, possibly imitation Samian Dr.24, and a grain storage pit containing a brooch of circa AD.41-68 were found, and late pottery from a supposed oven suggested occupation into the 4th century. The beaker burial previously mentioned was situated in the garden of No. 15 Conway Drive (SY 72708665). <4>

<1> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1981, Britannia: a journal of Romano-British and kindred studies 12, 359 (Serial). SDO16747.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1982, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1980, 100-101 (Serial). SDO80.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 594 (Monograph). SDO150.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1974, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1973, 44-49 (Serial). SDO73.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454080 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 4 2024 4:25PM