Monument record MDO8728 - Mother Siller's Channel, Crouch Hill, Christchurch; Mesolithic Hearth in Trench 2

The excavation by Susann Palmer during 1970 at the base of Crouch Hill, Christchurch Harbour, recovered evidence for a mesolithic hearth in Trench 2. this comprised three large hearth stones of Purbeck limestone. The sand around the stones was burnt to a great depth and was concreted through the fusion of the silica. Trench 2 also produced 90 items of mesolithic lithic material.

The excavation by Susann Palmer during 1970 at the base of Crouch Hill, Christchurch Harbour, recovered evidence for a mesolithic hearth in Trench 2. this comprised three large hearth stones of Purbeck limestone. The sand around the stones was burnt to a great depth and was concreted through the fusion of the silica. Trench 2 also produced 90 items of mesolithic lithic material.

This, together with further hearths in Trench 1, seems to represent an open mesolithic camp. The nearest source of Purbeck limestone is 15 miles distant from the site, a long way to carry hearthstones. The excavator suggested that the site may post date 5000 BC because at this time the sea would have been relatively close to the site.

<1> Palmer, S, 1970, The Mesolithic Industries of Mother Siller's Channel, Christchurch, and the Neighbouring Areas. Excavation Report., p9-33 (Article in serial). SWX3924.

<2> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Structure 15 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

Record last edited

Nov 8 2023 7:41PM