Monument record MDO7386 - Romano-British occupation debris, Manor Farm, Coombe Keynes

Pottery found during the digging of a silage pit, and reported as coming from dark patches 3 or 4 feet below the ground surface. Subsequently, a Roman coin was found on the surface.

(SY 83688552) In May (1950) fragments of R.B. pottery were found in patches of dark soil about 3 to 4 ft. below the
surface whilst digging a silage pit, about 50 - 100 yds. from the road. Information from Mr. C.G. Hyde. The sherds included a countersunk handle, pie-dish rims with a groove on the upper surface of the flange near its inner edge, and a base of a beaker of New Forest type with brown matt slip. (1)

In 1951 a Roman coin was found while digging in this silage pit. The coin was identified by Mr.Farrar as a 3rd brass of Marcus Aurelius, (A.D. 161-180), bearing on the reverse a figure of Annonina or Abundantia holding cornucopia and corn ears. <2>

This coin, and the pottery mentioned in authority 1, are in the possession of Mr Hyde, and were seen during field investigation.

The silage pit was surveyed at SY83688550. The sole surface finds were three small fragments of R.B. type ware, of a grey-black colour. The field in which this pit lies is under the plough, but no finds were made during field investigations. <3>

Finds from the silage pit now in Dorchester County Museum. <4>



A bronze coin of Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180) is reported as a surface find. [3][4]

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1951, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1950, 82 (Serial). SDO50.

'A Romano-British site near Coombe Keynes ; nat. grid SY (30)/83688552. In May fragments of Romano-British pottery were found in patches of dark soil about 3 to 4 ft. below surace whilst digging a silage pit, about 30 to 100 yds from the road. Information from the finder, Mr. C. G. Hyde. The sherds included a countersunk handle, pie-dish rims with a groove on the upper surface of the flange near its inner edge, and a base of a beaker of New Forest type with brown matt slip.'

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1952, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1951, 85 (Serial). SDO51.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 08-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3.1> Hyde, C G, Oral: Mr C G Hyde (farmer), Burton Manor Farm, East Burton, Wool (Verbal communication). SDO19953.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 08-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Farrar, R A H, 1952, Archaeological Fieldwork in Dorset in 1951, 85 (Article in serial). SWX2107.

<6> Dewar, H S L, Letter: H S L Dewar, 17.7.1959 (Verbal communication). SDO19811.

Sketch plan

<7> 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.

'(21) MANOR FARM (SY 88 NW). Occupation Debris comes from N.E. of Coombe Wood about 175 ft. above sea level on Upper Chalk near its junction with Reading Beds of the Frome valley (83688552). A silage pit in 1950 showed dark patches 3 ft. or 4 ft. below surface containing sherds of the 1st or 2nd to the 4th century. There are other remains nearby (See Wool (50). (Dorset Procs. LXXII (1950), 18; LXXXIII (1951), 85).'

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455326 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 10 2023 12:16PM