Find Spot record MDO8092 - Inhumation burials, Tyneham

Burials in cists of shale slapbs were found during the removal of the south porch of St Mary's Church. A human skeleton was found in a nearby garden.

A small stream of water having been diverted from its natural course, soon worked for itself a deep channel, and then found a cutting in the soul many feet in depth. In this cutting, bones and small fragments of pottery were exposed to view. The pottery appeared to be of a Roman character, and some of the fragments were of a fine red glaze. (2)

There were no finds in the bed or sides of this stream. (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.

‘(39) Tyneham Village (SY 88 SE). Occupation Debris and Inhumation Burials have been found near the head of Tyneham Gwyle about 150 ft. above sea level. Bones, samian ware and sherds thought Romano-British were found in 1860 in the diverted stream bed (88148031). A human skeleton was found in a nearby garden, and burials in cists of shale slabs were found in removing the S. porch of St. Mary's Church (88148039). Seven interments and a separately buried skull found in a sandy mound (87948030) near the Rectory, one with a vessel of 'black unbaked clay' near the head, were probably of Iron Age 'C' or Roman date. (Hutchins I, 628; locations from O.S. 6 in. map.) See also p. 454.’

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 edition OS map (Map). SWX1540.

Roman Pottery found A.D. 1860 (NAT)

<2> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, p628 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 23-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

Record last edited

Jul 2 2025 2:12PM