Monument MPM226 - Inhumations from east end of Paulsgrove Chalk Pit

The discovery of two human skeletons and 22 bronze Roman coins at Mr Martin's chalk pit on Portsdown Hill was reported in the Hampshire Telegraph on 11th August 1888. The first skeleton had 'dropped' from its grave due to the chalk being disturbed by the workmen who found it. According to the newspaper report the skeleton was thought to be that of a Roman man about 6ft tall and around 30 years old. The 22 coins were situated within the left hand. 'Portions' of the skeleton and the coins were reportedly 'now in the possession of Mr T. B. Baker, chemist, High Street, Cosham'. A second skeleton was subsequently revealed by a workman's pickaxe. Only the skull was said to have been uncovered, the rest of the skeleton being left in situ pending the arrival of a London archaeologist.

The whereabouts of the remains or the coins is not known. They are not held by the current Portsmouth Museum Service.

[1]

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In 1926 Cooke reported that " two skeletons of Roman soldiers were found in 1888 on the slopes of Portsdown Hill near Paulsgrove quarry, buried in a cavity hollowed out of the chalk and covered with soil. Part of a hob nailed boot was found near the feet of the skeletons: near the heads were 22 Roman coins of the reigns of Valens and Constantine."
References:

VCH (hants) I, 1900, p346.
Hants.Nat + Ant, I p25
Cooke, Tales of Ancient Wessex, 1926 p53.

[2]

<1> Hampshire Telegraph, 1888, Hampshire Telegraph (Bibliographic reference). SPM342.

<2> Portsmouth City Council, n/a, Portsmouth City SMR Cards, SU60NW16 (Index). SPM1.