Monument record MDO7745 - Romano British cist burial, Acton, Langton Matravers

An extended skeleton was found lying in reddish brown clay about 1 foot below the surface. The body lay with the feet approximately to the south east in a stone cist of uprights and coverstones.

(Centred at: SY 988781). On 24th January 1949, during quarrying excavations a short distance to the south of Acton and north west of Blacklands, an extended skeleton was found lying in a reddish brown clay about 1ft below the surface. The body lay with the feet approx. to the southeast in a stone cist of uprights and coverstones. One small sherd of Middle Bronze Age pottery was found near the feet. <1>

A human skeleton was uncovered at Langton Matravers (Dorset) stone quarry yesterday. An authority gave the date of burial probably about 1000 BC). <2>

Probably Romano-British. The single small sherd of Middle Bronze Age pottery means nothing (Calkin). The site where the inhumation was found was pointed out by Mr Bower of Langton Matravers and was surveyed at SY 98927819. It is now partially filled in and disused quarry. There were no surface finds. <3>

Probable Romano-British extended burial from SY 979782, with feet to the south-east and contained in a covered cist. No grave goods were found. <4>

Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey (Index). SDO147.

The site lies in a field of rough grassland colonized by low shrubs. This field has been badly disturbed by past quarrying. To the W and E are fields occasionally ploughed and in ley pasture. 500m to the N where the burial was found area quarries still in use. 7/7/D.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1950, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1949, 66 (Serial). SDO49.

<2> News Chronicle, 25 January 1949 (Serial). SDO18999.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 22-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<3.1> Calkin, J B, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: J B Calkin, Virginia House, Langton Matravers (Verbal communication). SWX3444.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 602 (Monograph). SDO150.

<5> Papworth, M, 1994, Eastington, Acton, Westwood, Wilkswood, New Barn, Corfe Castle Estate, Wessex Region, 47 (Unpublished document). SWX1388.

A burial was found during quarrying in January 1949. The site lay a short distance south of Acton and north-west of Blacklands. It was an extended skeleton lying in reddish brown clay about 0.3m below surface. The body lay with the feet approximately to the south-east in a stone cist of uprights and coverstones. One small sherd of Middle Bronze Age pottery was found near the feet (Calkin 1949, 66).

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456382 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 27 2025 12:14PM