Monument record MWX2912 - Preston Sewerage; cremation site

Two adjacent cremation related features of Middle Bronze Age date. One contained an urned cremation (possibly two individuals), the other comprised a pit containing a charcoal-rich fill and some bone, also possibly derived from two individuals. It is possible that the pit represents the remains of the pyre on which the two individuals burned in the urned cremation were buried. The fragmentary remains of another urn were noted in a truncated pit approx. 2m away, but no cremation-type deposit survived.
SITE POSSIBLY REPRESENTS COMPONENT OF A LARGER CREMATION CEMETERY -THOUGH THIS COULD NOT BE EXPLORED WITHIN CONSTRAINTS OF PIPELINE ARCHAEOLOGY.
A further pit was observed some 50m to the North of Southdown Farm (c300m upslope). This contained only a single diagnostic sherd of pottery, though was dated as being approx. contemporary with the cremation features.
All 3 features contained traces of grain and chaff, suggestive of the presence of a nearby settlement.(1).

<1> Manning, A and Norcott, D, 2003, Preston Sewerage, Overcombe Down, Dorset. Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SWX8458.

Record last edited

May 16 2012 2:16AM