Monument record MDO8565 - Late Bronze Age cremation cemetery, Bournemouth

In 1873 workmen digging a trench near a mound discovered an urn described as being of 'ancient British' type containing cinerary remains. Work continued and a few days later 96 urns were uncovered. Five more urns were discovered in 1923.

The site of this discovery is a barren mound of coarse sand and gravel. Workmen angaged in 1873 in trenching discovered an urn of ancient British type, containing cinerary remains; being in an advanced state of decay; it unfortunately fell to pieces immediately the earth was cleared away. The work was continued for a few days when 96 similar urns were exhumed, all except one in the same friable condition. On top of the mound, encircled by a two foot vallum of black soil is a tumulus. Close to the trench five small urns were found, about 2 ft apart, and the same number on the east side, but not so deep in the soil. The remaining 86 were deposited nearby in parallel lines on the slope of the mound, south of the barrow in a small space of about 20 ft square. The urns measured from 6"-16" in diam 12"-18" deep, and from 1/4"-1" thick. Many of them were black in colour, others brown inclining to dark red and none contained any coin or metallic substance. <1> While digging post-holes in 1923, 2 workmen found 5 urns containing fragments of burnt bones. No objects of metal or stone were found, but flint flakes were picked up nearby. <2> No visible remains. Site of tumulus built over by modern houses and a garden covers site of urnfield. <4>

Record last edited

May 5 2023 3:15PM