Monument record MWX2927 - Post-Roman cemetery at Manor Farm, Portesham

Watching brief revealed small cemetery and associated features. A large pit contained the remains of at least 4 individuals. (Other burials may have been within the pit, but were not excavated as the building works were not projected to impact upon them)

Multiple burials within pit. Apparently of Christian origin - being of E-W alignment, heads to west. Some uncertainty over dating of these burials, but thought most likely to be of late Roman / early post-Roman date. Five further burials were observed as extended inhumations, laid out E-W in more clearly defined grave cuts. Only one of three burials was associated with an object; a probable iron saw. A single infant burial was also observed, though not excavated. All finds derived from the grave backfill of this group were of Romano-British date. However, the excavators felt that these were all secondary contexts. <1-4> Excavations at Manor Farm located an inhumation cemetery comprising nine inhumations. Eight of the inhumations were excavated and were found to be supine extended skeletons orientated approximately west-east. Four lay within single graves, the others were situated within a pit. Radio-carbon dating suggests a seventh-eighth century date for the cemetery. <5>

Record last edited

Dec 14 2023 10:24AM