Monographs

The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society archaeological monographs are an occasional series of publications that largely cover significant Dorset excavations or research projects.

This has included some of the most influential Dorset excavations, including those at Greyhound Yard in Dorchester, Bestwall Quarry at Wareham, the Viking mass grave on the South Dorset Ridgeway, and a number of Dorset villas. Monographs are available from the Dorset Museum shop.

To discuss a DNHAS monograph proposal, contact the Editor.

Some of our most recent publications

Bill Putnam’s Excavations 1969-1979

By Iain Hewitt, Maureen Putnam, Jonathon Milward and Jonathon Monteith.

The excavations carried out by Bill Putnam at Dewlish have given us some of the most iconic images from Roman Dorset, particularly its mosaics. However, the site tells us so much more. The villa lasted for centuries and is an example of how a ‘villa’ is not one static thing. It developed and changed and the uses of different areas altered over time. It certainly included dwellings of high status, which had similarities and differences with other Roman country houses, both near and far, but there was also evidence of agricultural production and more mundane activities.

The archaeology is well illustrated in this volume with drawings and photos from the site archive. The nationally important Leopard and Gazelle mosaic, and other tessellated floors, are illustrated and discussed. The excavation which began more than 50 years ago, marked an important moment in the development of archaeology in Dorset and more widely. Bill Putnam’s work was instrumental in the development of teaching archaeology as a discipline, and Dewlish is remembered fondly as the beginning of many distinguished archaeological careers.