Monument record MDO7339 - Roman cemetery at Bare Cross, Church Knowle

Inhumation burials were found in 1859 on the crest of a saddle in the Purbeck Hills, 375 feet above sea level. Parallel chalk cut graves, 1 foot or so apart, some 2 feet deep and 20 inches wide lay east-west with head to the west. Of six examined all were female or young people according to the anthropologist J Thurnam. One, a woman of at least 40, lay east of three individuals of about 12, 15 and 18 years. The regular disposition and presumably extended posture argue Roman date.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 596 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(59) BARE CROSS (SY 98 SW). Inhumation Burials were found in 1859 on the crest of a saddle in the Purbeck Hills (Upper Chalk), 375 ft. above sea level. They were discovered in the road cutting and an adjoining chalk-pit, probably that at 93088210 behind a W.-facing cross-ridge dyke (see Dykes, Church Knowle (56a), Fig. opp. p. 509). Parallel chalk-cut graves 1 ft. or so apart, some 2 ft. deep and 20 ins. wide, lay E.-W. with head to W. Of six examined all were female or young people according to the anthropologist J. Thurnam; one, a woman of at least 40, lay E. of three individuals of about 12, 15, and 18 years. The regular disposition and presumably extended posture argue Roman date. (Purbeck Papers I (1859–60), 232–3.)’

<2> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 245 (Index). SDO147.

'Site where the ridgeway track crosses the road to East Creech. Disused quarry pit lie close by and surrounding land is rough grassland colonised by low shrubs.'

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457045 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2023 11:23AM