Monument record MWX3664 - Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Fields J and T, Roman metal working

Slag spreads and furnace base representing metal working in Field J. Two iron working furnaces and a large spread of iron working debris identified in Field T.

Field J: Large amount of slag in fills of two ditches, three slag spreads and a probably bowl furnace base consisting of a dense concentration of charcoal and clay together with limestone and pierces of burnt sarsen stone. A tiny scoop contained 19 hand made nails (1)
Field T: Two pear shaped features identified as the bases of iron working furnaces together with associated stoke pits. The furnace bases consisted of circular spreads of raw clay on which the ceramic superstructure of the furnace once sat. The stoke pit fillings contained large amounts of slag and charcoal as well as fragments of the ceramic furnace. Close by a spread of iron working debris 94.6m x 6.05m was also excavated. A 0.5m slot produced 72,123g of slag and other furnace waste (2)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 2001, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 2000, 160 (Serial). SDO11605.

<1> Ladle, L, 2001, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 10 - 2001 (Unpublished document). SWX8531.

<2> Ladle, L, 2003, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 11 - 2002 (Unpublished document). SWX8532.

<2> Ladle, L, 2003, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 12 - 2003 (Unpublished document). SDO13970.

Record last edited

Apr 3 2021 3:04PM