Monument record MDO4527 - Romano-British burials, Okeford Fitzpaine

Inhumation burials, thought most probably to be Romano British, were found in a chalk pit south of the village. Several were found with the feet to the east.

Inumation burials, probably Romano-British, were found in 1882 'crammed' in a square, east to west trench in a chalk pit just outside Okeford Fitzpaine on the road to Turnbull. Some were found with feet to the east, and covered by large tabular flints. There were no dative finds and no indication of a mound. The pit lies midway between two others, both plentiful with human remains, all within a quarter of a mile. A skeleton in a vertical position with a large stone upon its head was found in the lower pit on the road to Ibberton. <1> <3>

An area of pits centred at ST 808102. 'A' (ST 80431027) Two sand pits. The northern one probably contained the vertical burial. 'B' (ST 80801025) A large chalk pit in which probably the trench burials were found. 'C' (ST 81031025) A chalk pit. Probably the one mentioned as containing human remains. <2>

No further information concerning the ?Romano-British inhumation burials was obtained during current field investigation. All the referenced chalk and sand pits (3), are now abandoned and overgrown. <4>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1881, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 91-94 (Serial). SDO3.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 26-JUL-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 206 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(39) INHUMATION BURIALS, probably Romano-British, were found in a chalk pit S. of the village (808102); several were found with the feet to the E. and covered with tabular flints. Hoards of 70 to 80 Durotrigian silver coins were found near this site in 1753 and 1788 (Dorset Procs. IV (1880), 91–4; Hutchins IV, 335).’

<4> Stone, J W, Field Investigators Comments JWS, F2 JWS 08-MAR-78 (Unpublished document). SDO11902.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206223 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 21 2022 3:50PM