Monument record MDO6113 - Ditch and 2 pits (possibly cremation burials) on Handley Hill, Sixpenny Handley

Excavations in 1976 prior to the construction of a new roundabout at Handley Hill crossroads uncovered a former field boundary ditch. Of uncertain date, it appeared to be aligned towards one of the bowl barrows in the vicinity, suggesting a post-Bronze Age date. In fact, the excavators considered it to be fairly recent. The other features of note were two small pits or shallow post-holes, one containing a large Beaker sherd. The ashy infilling of the pits suggested a tentative link with cremation.

A ditch of V-section and two small pits or shallow post-holes were revealed by the construction of a roundabout at the Handley Hill cross-roads (SU 011166). The ditch was thought to be fairly recent. One of the pits contained a large sherd of Beaker ware, and the ashy infilling of the two pits suggested a cremation burial, although nothing further was found to substantiate this. <1>

The ditch was interpreted as a field boundary, probably of fairly recent date. It was noted to be aligned towards a bowl barrow at SU 014163. There is in fact no bowl barrow at this grid reference, though several exist in its vicinity (see for example SU 01 NE 28 and associated monuments). <1>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1978, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1976, 60-61 (Serial). SDO76.

‘SIXPENNY HANDLEY (SU 011166). The construction of a new roundabout at the Handley Hill crossroads …. (2) Close to (1) two small pits or shallow post-holes were discovered, on containing a large sherd of Beaker ware. The ashy infilling of the two pits suggested a cremation origin but no further sense could be made of them. There was, apparently, no association with the field boundary, which had an entirely different (chalk) filling.’

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213615 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2023 3:32PM