Attitudes to Disposal of the Dead - Gazetteer Query Form

Background to the Gazetteer | Table of Contents

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 Dorchester-on-Thames, Site XII

Site number 875

Burial codes 4001 4005 4021 4024 4025 4028 4030 4032 4042 4046 4051 4053 4065 4072 4084 4091 4098 4101 4106 4122 4123 4143 4153 4158 4169 4181

2500bc-14/1300bc A ring ditch, diameter c17m, of at least three phases, enclosed a central grave containing the burial of an adult c20-30, probably male, lying on what appears to have been a plank bier, accompanied by a fine Bell B Beaker at the knees, a tanged copper knife beneath the right elbow, a small riveted bronze knife in front of the hands, and a greenstone wristguard under the left wrist. A large pit (Pit A) containing the traces of a sledge or bier with a hide covering was dug through the segmented inner ditch (diameter c11m) which shared its NW course with the main encircling and continuous ring ditch.

The oval grave was oriented NE/SW, centrally positioned relative to the segmented smaller ditch, measured c2.25m x 1.6m and was cut 0.8m deep into the gravel subsoil with even, steep sides. It had a base fill of clean gravel on which was set a wooden plank bier (seen shadowed in the soil traces) supporting the skeleton and grave goods. The body was tightly crouched, on its left side, head to north east. The skull was detached from the top of the spine, the rest of the body being correctly articulated.

[Order suggested by Whittle et al 1992: Dorchester Site VIII, 1, III, XI, II, I, IV, V, VI, 2, 3, XIV, XII, XIII, 4, VII, IX].

Remains/Period Y4

County Oxfordshire

Region SE

National grid square SU

X coordinate 571

Y coordinate 956

Bibliographic source Whittle, Atkinson, Chambers and Thomas 1992

Query

Site name	Dorchester-on-Thames, Site XII
Site number	875
Burial codes	4001 4005 4021 4024 4025 4028 4030 4032 4042 4046 4051 4053 4065 4072 4084 4091 4098 4101 4106 4122 4123 4143 4153 4158 4169 4181
2500bc-14/1300bc	A ring ditch, diameter c17m, of at least three phases, enclosed a central grave containing the burial of an adult c20-30, probably male, lying on what appears to have been a plank bier, accompanied by a fine Bell B Beaker at the knees, a tanged copper knife beneath the right elbow, a small riveted bronze knife in front of the hands, and a greenstone wristguard under the left wrist. A large pit (Pit A) containing the traces of a sledge or bier with a hide covering was dug through the segmented inner ditch (diameter c11m) which shared its NW course with the main encircling and continuous ring ditch. The oval grave was oriented NE/SW, centrally positioned relative to the segmented smaller ditch, measured c2.25m x 1.6m and was cut 0.8m deep into the gravel subsoil with even, steep sides. It had a base fill of clean gravel on which was set a wooden plank bier (seen shadowed in the soil traces) supporting the skeleton and grave goods. The body was tightly crouched, on its left side, head to north east. The skull was detached from the top of the spine, the rest of the body being correctly articulated. [Order suggested by Whittle et al 1992: Dorchester Site VIII, 1, III, XI, II, I, IV, V, VI, 2, 3, XIV, XII, XIII, 4, VII, IX].
Remains/Period	Y4
County	Oxfordshire
Region	SE
National grid square	SU
X coordinate	571
Y coordinate	956
Bibliographic source	Whittle, Atkinson, Chambers and Thomas 1992