Monument record MDO18568 - Poundbury Pipeline, Dorchester; Roman grave 120

One of a number of Roman graves revealed during a watching brief by Wessex Archaeology on a pipeline running through the industrial estates to the east of Poundbury Camp in 1986. The chalk-cut grave was aligned E-W and contained the supine extended inhumation of a child aged 9-10 years, with the head to the west, lying within an outline of nine coffin nails. No grave goods were found. This burial was part of the main Late Roman cemetery at Poundbury.

Grave 120 was one of a number of Roman graves revealed during a watching brief by Wessex Archaeology on a pipeline running through the industrial estates to the east of Poundbury Camp in 1986 (1) (2) (3) (4). The chalk-cut grave was aligned E-W and contained the supine extended inhumation of a child aged 9-10 years, with the head to the west, lying within an outline of nine coffin nails. The legs appear to have been crossed and the hands placed over the pelvis. No grave goods were found.

This burial was part of the main Late Roman cemetery at Poundbury (5).

<1> Davies, S M and Grieve, D, 1986, 'The Poundbury pipe-line: Archaeological Observations and Excavations', Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 81-88 (Article in serial). SDO9537.

<2> Grieve, D and Davies, S M, 1986, The Poundbury Pipe-Line: Archaeological Observations and Excavations 1986 (Unpublished document). SDO157.

<3> Grieve, D, and Davies, S M, 1986, The Poundbury Pipeline. Archaeological Observations and Excavations, 1986 (Excavation archive). SDO10064.

<4> Frere, S S, 1987, 'Roman Britain in 1986: 1. Sites explored', Britannia, 345 (Article in serial). SDO9988.

<5> Farwell, D E and Molleson, T I, 1993, Excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset 1966-1980. Volume II: The Cemeteries, 15 (Monograph). SDO9538.

Record last edited

Jan 11 2007 6:09AM