Monument record MWX587 - Possible Iron Age inhumations at Baltington, Tyneham

Seven burials reported to have been found in the course of antiquarian investigation of a mound thought to have been a Bronze Age bowl barrow. One of the burials was said to be accompanied by a small cup, and a detached skull was also found. These burials are thought possibly to be of Iron Age or later date.

Tyneham. In a field belonging to the rectory is a sandy mound in which remains of no less than seven human interments have been discovered, with some of which the bones of large animals have been associated. Amongst the human remains was a skull which appeared to have been severed from its body and buried by itself ..... One skeleton had near its head a small cup or vase eight or ten inches high made of black unbaked clay .... The position of this skeleton was nearly east to west. <1>

The site is an irregular mound, now overgrown and lying within a gunnery range. Two fragments of soft white pottery were found at the side of the mound and an unidentifiable animal bone was exposed at the top of the mound. <3>

SY 87958031. Bowl (?) barrow on a low spur west of Tyneham Church. The mound is 3ft high, probably originally circular but hollowed into a horse-shoe shape by excavation. It almost certainly contained seven inhumations, possibly Iron Age or later, one with a small cup. A detached skull was buried separately. <4>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, p628 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

Human Remains found AD 1860 (NAT)

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 23-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 454 (Monograph). SDO150.

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455461 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 21 2023 7:36AM