Monument record MDO6558 - Medieval shell midden, Sweet Hill Road, Southwell, Portland

A layer of limpet shells recorded in a drainage trench in 1950, and interpreted as a shell midden. Sherds of pottery in the layer were of 12th to 13th century date.

Medieval sherds found in 1951 in a layer of limpet shells, in a drainage trench in the lane between SWEET HILL ROAD and the new bungalows. Sited with grid Ref as above. Acc No 1952.17. <2>

(SY 68527006) "2nd Medieval limpet midden fd". <3>

The band of limpet shells was 2ins thick at maximum, and visible at both sides of the trench for a distance of 20-25ft.
Commencing at a point 10ft from the manhole in the junction of the lane with SWEET HILL ROAD. The band of shells was 2ft 6ins below the surface; three fragments of Medieval pottery, similar to 12th or 13th sherds found in the site 170 yds to S.W. were found in the shells of this trench. <4>

(SY 68557006) the surveyed site of the manhole cover. A modern road covers the site given in <3>. No additional information was obtained and there were no surface finds in adjacent gardens observable from the roadside. <5>

<1> Farrar, R A H, 1950 , Two Roman burial places and a Mediaeval limpet midden in the Isle of Portland. (Article in serial). SWX7796.

<2> Dorset County Museum, Dorset County Museum Accessions Book (Unpublished document). SWX1315.

<2> Farrar, R A H, 1951 , A Mediaeval Limpet Midden at Southwell, Portland., p83-7 (Article in serial). SWX7800.

<3> Ball, A C, 1951, Annotated Record Map 6 map (A C Ball 29.1.51) (Map). SWX2105.

<4> Farrar, R A H, 1952, Archaeological Fieldwork in Dorset in 1951 (Article in serial). SWX2107.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1952, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1951, 94 (Serial). SDO51.

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F2 JR 04-JUN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 451818 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 1 2023 9:38AM