Attitudes to Disposal of the Dead - Gazetteer Query Form

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Note that there may be a few slight discrepancies between counts given in the text and the returned results in the gazetteer. This is a result of corrections and amendments (not updates) made to the gazetteer since the research was published in BAR. This does not materially affect the picture presented but does add more detail.

Site name Worlebury, Weston-super-Mare

Site number 1184

Burial codes 2003 2004 2009 2022 2023 2026 2028 2030 2035 2036 2042 2047 2051 2065 2071 2073 2075 2084 2093 2098 2103 2104 2108 2111 2112 2127 2143 2153 2156 2181 2182 1003 1004 1009 1022 1023 1026 1028 1030 1035 1036 1042 1047 1051 1065 1071 1073 1075 1084 1093 1098 1103 1104 1108 1111 1112 1127 1143 1153 1181 1182

8/700bc-100bc At least 4 pits of the 93 discovered in and close to the hill fort contained complete inhumations and numerous others produced isolated bones. Bones from about 25 persons in all were found on the site.

Pit 6 was 1.87m square x 1.8m deep and contained the skeleton of an adult on its right side. The lower part of the legs were missing and the skull had been damaged by three sword cuts. There were cuts to the collar bone and left arm. Some pebbles were deposited below the body and some charred wood was at the bottom of the cavity.

Pit 7 contained a fragmentary skeleton in the upper layer, lying on its face. 20cm below the jaw was an iron spike. Above the body was a pig's jaw. Below the body were layers of wheat and barley separated by thin layers of wood as if normally stored. Wattle possibly from a hut wall or roof and a sedge mat or basket were also found in the pit's lower regions.

Pit 8 contained two adult skeletons in crouched positions, the pit having rock-cut steps. The skull of one was broken in against a sharp angle of rock at the bottom of the pit. Just above the pit floor was an iron spear head.

Pit 9 was walled with dry-stone masonry in its lower parts and contained three skeletons near the floor and also charred grain and sling-stones. One skeleton was of a male on its right side, oriented S, with an extensive double sword cut through its skull from behind, and damage to a femoral bone. The second was on its left side, oriented to the S or WSW, legs crouched, arms extended to the waist. The third was oriented N, below the other two, with no visible damage. There were some pebbles below the bodies and in the centre of the cist bottom was a deposit of charred corn, wheat and barley including the bones of small birds, all set on top of a few small laminae of lias and some charred wood. The burning of material appeared to have taken place in the pit bottom.

Other partial human remains recorded from other pits provide evidence for a further 18 persons as follows, with no locations specified but with high probability that they were in some of the 93 pits found on the site: 3 adult females (one violently killed), 14 adult males and 1 of unknown sex. A child's jaw was also found. Half bore the marks of cutting weapons.

One piece of worked humerus was found, cut smooth and blackened by fire, and bored through as if for suspension.

100bc-AD43 Some of the above disposals may be of this period.

Remains/Period Y2 Y1

County Somerset

Region SW

National grid square ST

X coordinate 314

Y coordinate 625

Bibliographic source Dymond and Tomkins 1886, Dymond 1902, Hawkes 1931, Harding 1974, Whimster 1981, Wilson 1981

Query

Site name	Worlebury, Weston-super-Mare
Site number	1184
Burial codes	2003 2004 2009 2022 2023 2026 2028 2030 2035 2036 2042 2047 2051 2065 2071 2073 2075 2084 2093 2098 2103 2104 2108 2111 2112 2127 2143 2153 2156 2181 2182 1003 1004 1009 1022 1023 1026 1028 1030 1035 1036 1042 1047 1051 1065 1071 1073 1075 1084 1093 1098 1103 1104 1108 1111 1112 1127 1143 1153 1181 1182
8/700bc-100bc	At least 4 pits of the 93 discovered in and close to the hill fort contained complete inhumations and numerous others produced isolated bones. Bones from about 25 persons in all were found on the site. Pit 6 was 1.87m square x 1.8m deep and contained the skeleton of an adult on its right side. The lower part of the legs were missing and the skull had been damaged by three sword cuts. There were cuts to the collar bone and left arm. Some pebbles were deposited below the body and some charred wood was at the bottom of the cavity. Pit 7 contained a fragmentary skeleton in the upper layer, lying on its face. 20cm below the jaw was an iron spike. Above the body was a pig's jaw. Below the body were layers of wheat and barley separated by thin layers of wood as if normally stored. Wattle possibly from a hut wall or roof and a sedge mat or basket were also found in the pit's lower regions. Pit 8 contained two adult skeletons in crouched positions, the pit having rock-cut steps. The skull of one was broken in against a sharp angle of rock at the bottom of the pit. Just above the pit floor was an iron spear head. Pit 9 was walled with dry-stone masonry in its lower parts and contained three skeletons near the floor and also charred grain and sling-stones. One skeleton was of a male on its right side, oriented S, with an extensive double sword cut through its skull from behind, and damage to a femoral bone. The second was on its left side, oriented to the S or WSW, legs crouched, arms extended to the waist. The third was oriented N, below the other two, with no visible damage. There were some pebbles below the bodies and in the centre of the cist bottom was a deposit of charred corn, wheat and barley including the bones of small birds, all set on top of a few small laminae of lias and some charred wood. The burning of material appeared to have taken place in the pit bottom. Other partial human remains recorded from other pits provide evidence for a further 18 persons as follows, with no locations specified but with high probability that they were in some of the 93 pits found on the site: 3 adult females (one violently killed), 14 adult males and 1 of unknown sex. A child's jaw was also found. Half bore the marks of cutting weapons. One piece of worked humerus was found, cut smooth and blackened by fire, and bored through as if for suspension.
100bc-AD43	Some of the above disposals may be of this period.
Remains/Period	Y2 Y1
County	Somerset
Region	SW
National grid square	ST
X coordinate	314
Y coordinate	625
Bibliographic source	Dymond and Tomkins 1886, Dymond 1902, Hawkes 1931, Harding 1974, Whimster 1981, Wilson 1981