Monument record MDO2091 - Romano-British burial on Corton Down, Portesham

(SY63678674) 'Interment in cist. Skull 29 5 36'. <1>

This site, a small disused limekiln, is situated on a south slope near the top of the long east-west ridge. On the north edge of the pit there has been some natural slip which has exposed a number of sherds of Romano-British ware, including fragments of Samian, in the topsoil, which averages 0.3 metres thick. Also in the topsoil are a few bones, sherds being above and below these bones. Weather conditions prevented excavation, but the bones found loosely appeared to be human. Those seen in the edge of the lime-kiln were left 'in situ', until better conditions prevail.

As far as could be seen the bones were not in a cist,but placed almost on the bed chalk. Novertheless it would seem that more than one burial has taken place at the site, and judging by the pottery sherds, that burials may be assigned to the R.B. period. <2>

<1> Anon, Undated, Pte 6 inch Dorset County Museum (Anon undated) (Map). SWX2203.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 17-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 604 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘…undated inhumations in stone cists … one on Corton Down (63668674) in 1936 (MS. Note by C. D. Drew, in D.C.M.).’

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452467 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 26 2023 10:34AM