Monument record MDO8401 - Roman finds, Worth Matravers

Romano-British pottery and other finds noted during road widening. Likely to be associated with settlement, iron working, and shale working site recorded in the area.

SY 98327983. Romano-British sherds and `coal money' (shale cores) found by P A Brown. <1>

SY 9834 7974. Road widening at Dunshay or Haycraft's Lane between Harman's Cross and Gallows Gore exposed a small area of dark earth. Romano-British sherds, animal bones and a high proportion of iron slag were noted by Mr P A Brown in the deposit; also a class 'C' shale armlet core and a shale disc 3 1/2 ins in diameter with central hole. Fragments of marble found in the deposit suggest this was a site for the working of the Purbeck marble which outcrops about 70 yards to the south. <2>

<1> Calkin, J B, Annotated Record Map Corr 6, 1966 (Map). SWX8214.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1967, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1966, 120 (Serial). SDO66.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 620 (Monograph). SDO150.

'A recently discovered site at Dunshay (98347974) near the Purbeck marble outcrop is described in Dorset Procs. LXXXVIII (1966), 120.'

<4> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 681 (Index). SDO147.

The site lies in a field occasionally ploughed and in ley pasture when visited.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456455 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456503 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 21 2023 6:14PM