Monument record MDO7478 - Romano-British occupation, Corfe Castle

Romano-British occupation debris located near Encombe Obilisk.

Building and occupation debris, including waste from the manufacture of shale armlets, excavated in 1954 at SY 94277898. The building, aligned approx N-S, was rectangular, probably thatched, and surface rubble suggested it may have stood within a compound. A rectangular cist 4 ft by 2 ft by 1 1/2 ft deep, sunk from floor level inside the north wall footings, contained five prepared shale discs and twenty-seven lathe cores. Surface finds included other cores, flint lathe tools, and RB pottery of the 1st or 2nd century to 4th century as well as Iron Age 'A' sherds and reject armlets. Ploughing in the area of a low mound at SY 94367911 has revealed stone paving slabs, Romano-British sherds and some shale, including an armlet rough-out. <1-5> Most of the upper part of a quern was found at this site in 1981. It is similar to one from Maiden Castle (Wheeler 1943 p.325 fig 114 No.9) but has a less concave lower surface and not such a clear internal ring. Petrological analysis suggests it is older than the local Wealden rocks. <6> There are no earthwork remains of this settlement, which is situated on a ridge top and regularly cultivated. <8>

Record last edited

Oct 11 2023 2:15PM