Monument record MDO8008 - Romano-British cist inhumation, Atlantic Road, Swanage

A Roman cist inhumation with evidence for the former presence of a coffin was found during house construction in Atlantic Road in 1953. A brooch of mid 2nd century date was also recovered.

SZ 02897834."Atlantic Road. An inhumation burial was found in 1953 below the 200 ft contour in building a house about 100 yds SSW of the cottage hospital." <3>

"The extended skeleton, evidently, from some 3 dozen 2 1/2 inch nails, in a wooden coffin, lay with head SE at a depth of 4 ft in an unusual cist consisting of two 1 1/2 ft high drystone walls nearly 2 1/2 ft apart and over 6 ft long, capped with a layer of local 'blue rag' slabs. The remains were of a male of about 50 years with exceptionally thick skull; the filling contained a brooch of the mid 2nd century; in private hands. The cranium is in Christchurch Museum" <1>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1954, 76-77, (Calkin) (Serial). SDO54.

<2> Farrar, R A H, 1956, Archaeological Fieldwork in Dorset in 1953 and 1954, 76-77 (Article in serial). SWX1317.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 612 (Monograph). SDO150.

'(96) Atlantic Road (SZ 07 NW). An Inhumation Burial was found in 1953 below the 200 ft. contour in building a house about 100 yds. S.S.W. of the Cottage Hospital (02807834).'

<3.1> Various, Swanage Times, 7 Oct 1953 & 17 Feb 1954 (Serial). SWX3259.

<4> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 315 (Index). SDO147.

The site lies under houses built presumably in the 1960s [or 1950s]. They are detached houses with large gardens. OS SZ07NW18
7/7/D TWA/IOP/1985

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Records, SZ 07 NW 18 (Index). SDO131.

A Roman cist inhumation with evidence for the former presence of a coffin was found during house construction in Atlantic Road in 1953. A brooch of mid 2nd century date was also recovered.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457472 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 14 2023 4:43PM