Find Spot record MDO8186 - Wareham: Human remains at St John's Hill

In April 1992, while replacing pavements on St John's hill, a workman disturbed a human skull. It was found about a metre below the present ground surface. It was well preserved and found with another small fragment of a skull and the lower right hand side of a lower jaw bone with seven teeth intact. The skull is believed to be that of an adult and the teeth were free of cavities and well worn. This find confirms Hutchins account of Human remains found in this area in 1753. (1) Also a fragment of a human jawbone was found during gardening at 2/3 St John's Hill. It was a lower mandible and is believed to be from a male of about 30 years old. The teeth were well worn with no cavities. The size of the jaw was noted as quite large compared to modern jaws. (2)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1993, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1992, 252 (Serial). SDO92.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1994, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1993, 162 (Serial). SDO93.

DCC SMR, to 2003, Former DCC SMR Card Index (Index). SWX8285.

<1> Ladle, L, 1992, Wareham Lady St Mary - St John's Hill, p252 (Article in serial). SWX8744.

<2> Ladle L, 1993, Wareham Lady St Mary- St John's Hill, p162 (Article in serial). SWX8745.

Record last edited

Jan 3 2021 12:45PM