Monument record MDO7743 - Roman occupation and shale working site at Wilkswood, Langton Matravers

Iron Age and Romano-British settlement at Wilkswood with possible Purbeck Marble and shale industries. Roman pottery dates from the mid to late 1st century AD. Iron Age pottery present.

SY 99377941 Wilkswood. Occupation debris, probably connected with the Purbeck marble industry and possibly with shale-working, has been found on Upper Purbeck Beds below 200ft on the N slope of the limestone ridge.

The remains, excavated at the E edge of a modern quarry in the Purbeck marble outcrop, consisted of debris apparently of a midden covering some 20 sq yds, with scattered material for perhaps 100 yds E. The bulk of the dateable sherds, including Samian, amphorae, colour-coated bowls and white flagons, as well as native wares, ranged from late to mid 1st century AD with few pieces of Iron Age `A' and late Roman ware. A sawn and polished piece of Purbeck marble, several worked and unworked fragments of shale, four turned armlets, and many flints including notched tools, suggest marble and shale-working, although characteristic armlet cores and lathe-tools are wanting. The site lies below remains of `Celtic' fields. <6>

<1> Oswald, A et al (eds), 1949, The Archaeological News Letter, 15 (Serial). SDO18997.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1950, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1949, 66 (Serial). SDO49.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1955, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1953, 52-53 (Serial). SDO53.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1960, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1959, 120-122 (Serial). SDO59.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 99397940) Romano-British Pottery & Brooch found AD 1942 (NAT)

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 602 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(42) WILKSWOOD (SY 97 NE). Occupation Debris, probably connected with the Purbeck marble industry and possibly with shale-working, has been found on Upper Purbeck Beds below 200 ft. on the N. slope of the limestone ridge (99377941).
The remains, excavated at the E. edge of a modern quarry in the Purbeck marble outcrop, consisted of debris apparently of a midden covering some 20 sq. yds., with scattered material for perhaps 100 yds. E. The bulk of the datable sherds, including samian, amphorae, colour-coated bowls and white flagons, as well as native wares, ranged from mid to late 1st century A.D., with a few pieces of Iron Age 'A' and late Roman ware. A sawn and polished piece of Purbeck marble, several worked and unworked fragments of shale, four turned armlets, and many flints including notched tools, suggest marble and shale-working, although characteristic armlet cores and lathe-tools are wanting. The site lies below remains of 'Celtic' fields of Ancient Field Group (28). (Dorset Procs. LXXV (1953), 52–3; LXXXI (1959), 121–2; Archaeological News Letter I, no. 11 (1949), 15.)’

<7> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 286 (Index). SDO147.

‘The site lies in an area of rough scrub badly damaged by past quarrying. This area lies between two areas of deciduous woodland. South of the quarry area is a field occasionally ploughed and in ley pasture when visited. OS SY97NE5. 7/7/D.’

<8> Papworth M, 1994, Eastington, Acton, Westwood, Wilkswood, New Barn, Corfe Castle Estate, Wessex Region, 37 (Unpublished document). SWX1388.

Romano British occupation debris 250m SW of Wilkswood Farm
In 1941-2, J. B. Calkin excavated an area of Romano-British occupation debris disturbed by quarrying (Calkin, 1953, 52). The site was probably associated with the Purbeck Marble and Kimmeridge shale working industries. There were a few Early Iron age sherds but most of the pottery dated to the 1st century Roman occupation. The excavation took place to the east of quarries opened in the 1930’s. Nothing apart from the disused quarry excavations was visible when visited.

<9> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456377 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 8 2022 3:49PM