(25) Long Barrow (96451317), near Thickthorn Farm in the extreme E. of the parish, lies 280 ft. above O.D. on the almost flat summit of a Chalk ridge. The oval mound, which has been heavily ploughed, measures 110 ft. by 70 ft. and is 3 ft. high. It is aligned S.S.E.–N.N.W. There are traces of a ditch, which seems to have encircled the mound (C.U.A.P., ANC 26, 28).
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(6) Long Barrow (91560667), in the extreme W. of the parish, lies some 340 ft. above O.D. on the N.E. crest of a Chalk ridge, with which it is parallel in an orientation of 327°. The barrow is slightly wedge-shaped, 138 ft. long, 60 ft. wide at the S.E. end, 50 ft. wide at the N.W. end, and 6½ ft. high. Welldefined side ditches are 30 ft. to 35 ft. wide and up to 3 ft. deep. An inconclusive excavation in 1896 yielded only two sherds and three pieces of bone (Dorset Procs., XVIII (1897), pp. xxxiv and 1; O.S., Map of Neolithic Wessex, No. 156).
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Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
A long barrow and two bowl barrows 140m north west of Dormy House. The long barrow has a mound 42m long, 22m wide and 2m high and was excavated in 1896. The bowl barrows have been reduced in height by ploughing.
(ST 91550667) Long Barrow (NR). (1) Long Barrow ST 91550667
slightly wedge-shaped, 138 ft. long, 60 ft. wide at the S.E. end, 50 ft. wide at the N.W. end, and 6 1/2 ft. high. Well defined side ditches are 30 ft. to 35 ft. wide and up to 3 ft. deep. An inconclusive excavation in 1896 yielded only two sherds and three pices of bone. (2)
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Details of Barrow on Pastscape
Bowl barrow on The Cliff 775m north north west of Smiths Cottages. One of a group of three dispersed barrows on the edge of a steep sided ridge. The barrow is 20m in diameter and 0.3m high. It is surounded by a buried ditch c.0.3m wide.
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Three barrows are found on The Cliff, in the E. of the parish, about 300 ft. above O.D.; they lie on the crest of a steep N.W. slope overlooking the Tarrant valley. All three have been much reduced by ploughing.
(11) Bowl (94900717); diam. formerly 60 ft., ht. 2 ft.
(12) Bowl (95140730), 300 yds. N.E. of (11); diam. formerly 68 ft., ht. 2½ ft.
(13) Bowl (95270745), 220 yds. N.E. of (12); diam. formerly 55 ft., ht. 2 ft.
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
A group of bowl barrows on Little and Rawston Down. Of these Down Wood Barrow was opened by Cunnington in 1881 when three primary contracted inhumations and three secondary cremations were identified.
(ST 91590669, ST 91560664, ST 91580658) Tumuli (NR). (1)
'A' ST 91590669. A bowl barrow, which has been much reduced by ploughing, with a hole dug in the centre. It was formerly 40 ft in diameter and 2 ft high.
'B' ST 91560664. A bowl barrow, 28 ft in diameter and 2 ft high, with a hole dug in the centre.
'C' ST 91580658. A bowl barrow that was about 45 ft in diameter but which is now ploughed put.
One of these barrows is the 'Down Wood Barrow', opened by Cunnington in 1881 to yield primary contracted inhumations and three secondary cremations. (2)
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Of four barrows found on Rawston Down in the W. of the parish, either (7) or (8) was excavated by Cunnington, yielding three crouched inhumations in one grave, apparently primary, and three secondary inhumations (Dorset Procs., XXXVII (1916), 46; Cunnington MS., No. 42). An unidentified barrow, excavated 'on Keynston Down' in 1840, may have been in Rawston (see Tarrant Keyneston, pp. 104–5).
(7) Bowl (91590669), about 20 yds. N.E. of (6), has been much reduced by ploughing; former diam. 40 ft., ht. 2 ft.; hole dug in centre.
(8) Bowl (91560664), immediately S. of (6); diam. 28 ft., ht. 2 ft.; hole dug in centre.
(9) Bowl (92030634), on Rawston Down, 325 ft. above O.D., lies on the E. crest of a Chalk ridge extending N.W.-S.E.; diam. 74 ft., ht. 7 ft.; surrounding ditch 15 ft. wide and 1½ ft. deep.
(10) Bowl (91920612), 270 yds. S.W. of the foregoing and similarly situated; diam. 36 ft., ht. 2 ft.
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Details of Settlement on Pastscape
A multi period site with remains of a possible Bronze Age cemetery, Iron Age and Romano British settlement and a Roman Villa.
The Bronze Age remains are of Beaker burials and pits dating to the late 3rd or early 2nd millennium. A large settlement began in the Early or Middle Iron Age (6th-5th century BC) and continued into the Romano-British period (mid 1st century AD). A Romanised settlement including a bath house and various other buildings dates to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. This may have been replaced or converted into a 4th century AD courtyard Roman Villa. The last datable evidence is a coin from the House of Theodosius which provides a post 388 date to the villa and occupation may have continued until the end of the 4th century.
Five Beaker burials have been excavated which may have been marked by a mound. Evidence of Iron Age occupation has been recorded all over the site and includes an extensive settlement of round houses, pits and ditches and two middle Iron Age burials. The site is similar to the large Durotrigian Iron Age settlements of Cranborne Chase. There is little evidence to explain the transformation of the late Iron Age site into a Roman settlement in the 2nd century AD. However, it seems likely from the remains found that the Iron Age site continued and a slow metamorphosis into a Romanised settlement occurred in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. This is indicated by the presence of various Roman structures and a bath house. In the 4th century a courtyard villa was constructed with three ranges of residential and working areas. Remains of rich wall paintings, mosaics and other decorative elements have been found. The final phase of the courtyard building dates to the mid 4th century and the site may have been occupied until the end of the Roman period.
The site was first excavated in 1845 and extensively excavated between 1968 and 1984 by the Wimborne Archaeological Group. Many of the finds are on display in the Priest's House Museum, Wimborne.
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(17) Roman Settlement (926119), including a villa, lies N.W. of Barton Hill Dairy on a site overlooking the Tarrant, on the S. and E. slopes of a Chalk spur between 300 ft. and 360 ft. above sea-level. Excavations in 1845 revealed 'extensive remains of foundations, and walls with stucco and coloured facings, extending over an area of nearly twenty acres'. On the N. side of the field, 'at some distance from the spot where the principal remains of foundations were discovered', two rooms about 5½ ft. square flanked a narrow corridor; their floors were variously described as paved with red and white tesserae arranged in parallel rows, or as stuccoed. The walls, of flint and greensand 3 ft. thick, were plastered internally and were painted with 'ribbon-work, arches, foliage etc.' . A well 30 ft. deep contained the base and part of the shaft of a large column 'of a classic character and resembling the Ionic'. Finds included flue and roofing tiles, tesserae, samian and coarse pottery, amphorae, circular pipes (presumably of earthenware), querns, bronze brooches, shale rings, and coins of Constantine and Constantius. Some of these finds, and also fragments of mosaic with guilloche, angular and curved patterns in red, white and two shades of grey, are in D.C.M.; other finds are in the B.M. It has been suggested that the site is Anicetis of the Ravenna Cosmography (J.B.A.A., 3rd ser. XVII (1954), 77–8).
The two primary accounts of the excavations of 1845, both by W. Shipp, differ in detail (Hutchins I, 318–19; Brit. Archaeol. Ass. (Winchester Congress, 1846), 179–82). Two Durotrigian silver coins in the Pitt-Rivers collection, described as from Tarrant Gunville, may come from this site (S. Frere, ed., Problems of the Iron Age in Southern Britain (1960), 240).
Limited test excavations in 1968 and 1969 tended to confirm the 19th-century accounts, yielding evidence of flint walls, generally 2 ft. thick, over a wide area. Two plain tesselated pavements, severely damaged by ploughing, and much decorated wall plaster also came to light. Nearly 50 coins were found, ranging from Lucius Verus to Valentinian, but chiefly of the 3rd and 4th centuries.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol4/pp96-101#h3-0004
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
A bowl barrow on Thickthorn Down, one of a small group of four or five visible as cropmarks on air photographs. There is some difficulty in concording the various records of this barrow group, primarily due to each source offering slightly different grid references. This barrow, RCHME's Tarrant Hinton 51, is located at ST 96131286. It appears to equate with the Ordnance Survey's barrow "C" in the group, as recorded by OGS Crawford, although they located it at ST 96141288. Grinsell listed it as Tarrant Hinton 27. RCHME described it as being circa 55 feet in diameter. It is located immediately south of the linear feature ST 91 SE 1, a short distance south west of the other barrows in the group. RCHME noted that another barrow appears to adjoin it on the north east. See ST 91 SE 186. Note that the other barrows in the group, previously described here, have now been recorded separately. See associated monument records for further details.
CE ('A' ST 96151301; 'B' ST 96181304; 'C' ST 96141288; 'D' ST 96171293) Four round barrows observed by T D Reade, July 1933. (1)
Three round barrows on Thickthorn Down, levelled by ploughing, are visible as soil marks on air photographs (a) Details as
follows:-
No 51. Barrow at ST 96131286, immediately S of Dyke (ST 91 SE 1), diameter about 55ft. (Probably Crawford's 'C').
No 52. Barrow at ST 96131299, diameter about 48ft (Crawford's 'A'). No 53. Barrow at ST 96151300, immediately adjacent to
No 52, diameter about 40ft (Crawford's 'B'). (2)
ST 96151299. Ring ditch, diameter 8 m., visible on air photographs. Makes a group with [No.s 51-53 listed above]. (3-4)
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Three barrows lie at about 240 ft. above O.D. on the S.E. slope of the Chalk ridge of Thickthorn Down. Now levelled by ploughing, they are visible as soil-marks on air photographs (C.U.A.P., ANC 26, 28).
(51) Barrow (96131286), immediately S. of Dyke (22); diameter about 55 ft. A second, smaller barrow appears to adjoin it on the N.E.
(52) Barrow (96131299); diam. about 48 ft.
(53) Barrow (96151300), immediately adjacent to (52); diam. about 40 ft. Undated
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
(Centred ST 917113) Tumuli (NR). (1)
Four barrows lie between 360 ft. and 380 ft. above O.D., on the S.E. slopes of a Chalk ridge at the S. end of Hinton Bushes; (A-C) are in woodland, (D) has been levelled by cultivation.
(A) Bowl (91651135); diam. 30 ft., ht. 3 ft.
(B) Bowl (91681132); diam. 60 ft., ht. 3 1/2 ft., with a well-marked
ditch 10 ft. across, and an outer bank best preserved on the W. side.
(C) Bowl (91791129), damaged in the centre; diam. 55 ft., ht. 3 ft.
(D) Bowl (91811130); former diam. 45 ft., ht. 3 ft. (2)
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Four barrows (36–39) lie between 360 ft. and 380 ft. above O.D., on the S.E. slopes of a Chalk ridge at the S. end of Hinton Bushes; (36–38) are in woodland, (39) has been levelled by cultivation.
(36) Bowl (91651135); diam. 30 ft., ht. 3 ft.
(37) Bowl (91681132); diam. 60 ft., ht. 3½ ft., with a well-marked ditch 10 ft. across, and an outer bank best preserved on the W. side.
(38) Bowl (91791129), damaged in the centre; diam. 55 ft., ht. 3 ft.
(39) Bowl (91811130); former diam. 45 ft., ht. 3 ft.
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Details of barrow cemetery on Pastscape
(Centred ST 922094) Tumuli (NR) (ST 91950935) Tumulus (NR) (1)
Telegraph Clump Group comprises eight barrows together with Long Barrow (ST 90 NW 4). It is possible that some, together with neighbouring barrows in Tarrant Launceston, were opened in the 19th century. W. Shipp opened a barrow near the Telegraph' which contained a human leg-bone beneath a large cairn J.H. Austen opened two barrows in the same area; in one he found a primary cremation in a cist, in the other he found nothing. In 1840 Austen opened another barrow 'near Race Course', which contained a primary crouched interment with a long-necked beaker.
'A' Bowl 91950935 destroyed since 1939 by the military camp.
'B'. Bowl 92010931 damaged by a modern road; diam. 30 ft., ht.under 1 ft.
'C'. Bowl 92120935 now much disturbed; diam. 20 ft., ht. 1 ft.
'D'. Bowl 92160937 severely damaged by digging; diam.about 40 ft., ht. 2 ft.
'E'. Bowl 92190936 disturbed and spread; diam. 70 ft., ht. 1 ft., with traces of a ditch about 10 ft. wide.
'F'. Bowl 92210935 immediately S.E. of 'E'; diam. 21 ft. by 15 ft., ht. less than 1 ft., surrounding ditch 3 ft. across.
'G'. Bowl 92260945 now much ploughed; diam. 65 ft., ht. less than 1 ft.
'H'. Bowl 92150950 under arable; diam. 45 ft., ht. less than 1 ft. (2-3)
Bronze Age round barrow cemetery at Telegraph Clump on Blandford Race Down. The cemetery includes seven barrows, comprising a cluster of five with two outliers to the north. They have been ploughed in the past but most survive as earthworks, up to maximum of 0.5 metres in height. Some of the barrows may have been excavated in the 19th century. Finds included a primary cremation within a cist and a primary burial with a Beaker. One of the northern barrows overlies the lynchet of a field system which encompasses the cemetery and extends north. It has been much reduced by ploughing over time and is now visible mainly on aerial photographs. Scheduled. (4)
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Telegraph Clump Group comprises eight barrows (27–34), together with Long Barrow (23), all over 360 ft. above O.D., on and near the summit of a Chalk ridge. Barrows (29–32) lie close together in a line immediately W. of (23); the others are more scattered. It is possible that some of these barrows, together with neighbouring barrows in Tarrant Launceston, were opened in the 19th century. W. Shipp opened a barrow 'near the Telegraph' which contained a human leg-bone beneath a large cairn (C.T.D., Pt. 2, no. 5). J. H. Austen opened two barrows in the same area; in one he found a primary cremation in a cist, in the other he found nothing (Ibid., nos. 25 and 26). In 1840 Austen opened another barrow 'near Race Course', which contained a primary crouched interment with a long-necked beaker (Ibid., no. 23 and Pl. VII, no. 1).
(27) Bowl (91950935), destroyed since 1939 by the military camp.
(28) Bowl (92010931), damaged by a modern road; diam. 30 ft., ht. under 1 ft.
(29) Bowl (92120935), now much disturbed; diam. 20 ft., ht. 1 ft.
(30) Bowl (92160937), severely damaged by digging; diam. about 40 ft., ht. 2 ft.
(31) Bowl (92190936), disturbed and spread; diam. 70 ft., ht. 1 ft., with traces of a ditch about 10 ft. wide.
(32) Bowl (92210935), immediately S.E. of (31); diam. 21 ft. by 15 ft., ht. less than 1 ft., surrounding ditch 3 ft. across.
(33) Bowl (92260945), now much ploughed; diam. 65 ft., ht. less than 1 ft.
(34) Bowl (92150950), under arable; diam. 45 ft., ht. less than 1 ft.
(35) Bowl (91901028), within arable, S.S.E. of (24); diam. 40 ft., ht. 3 ft.
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Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
(ST 92270933) Long Barrow (NR). (1) LONG BARROW 92270935 at Telegraph Clump, lies across the parish boundary and forms part of the Telegraph Clump barrow group (ST 90 NW 10) The barrow is aligned W.N.W.-E.S.E. along the summit of a chalk ridge. The mound, damaged by a modern brick structure, is 315 ft. long, up to 75 ft across and 10 ft. high; between it and the irregular and disturbed side ditches are the remains of a berm. (2) Long barrow at Telegraph Clump on Blandford Race Down. The barrow mound measures 107 metres long, 23 metres wide and stands up to 3 metres high. It now has two tiers, which may indicate a berm platform. Traces of a surrounding quarry ditch survive around the mound. The barrow has been damaged by military activity in the past. Scheduled. (3)
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(23) Long Barrow (92270935), at Telegraph Clump, lies across the parish boundary with Tarrant Launceston and forms part of the Telegraph Clump barrow group (see below, (27–34)). The barrow is aligned W.N.W.-E.S.E. along the summit of a Chalk ridge, at an altitude of 400 ft. The mound, damaged by a modern brick structure, is 315 ft. long, up to 75 ft. across and 10 ft. high; between it and the irregular and disturbed side ditches are the remains of a berm.
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Details of Neolithic round barrow on Pastscape
A Neolithic round barrow on Launceston Down, part of a cemetery excavated in 1938 (see parent record for details). Listed by RCHME as Tarrant Launceston 38 and by Grinsell as Tarrant Launceston 4. The barrow is no longer extant as an earthwork. On excavation, the site proved to be a low natural knoll which had been thinly covered with earth and stones. This low mound was circa 1.3 feet high above the natural chalk. The "apparent diameter" was 40 feet. Near the centre, below the mound, was a crouched inhumation laid on its left side upon a layer of flint nodules. The nodules had been placed directly on the old ground surface. A leaf shaped flint arrowhead was found among the ribs of the skeleton. At the feet of the inhumation were two intersecting postholes. The excavators assumed that one was a replacement for the other. This site was originally recorded as part of ST 91 SE 59, and that record should be consulted for additional information and sources. Visited by MPPA in March 2000, but since all are heavily denuded, not recommended for scheduling.
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Details of Barrow cemetery on Pastscape
A barrow cemetery on Launceston Down excavated in 1938 by S and CM Piggott under "rescue" conditions following government acquisition of the land. None of the barrows now survive as earthworks. Of the 10 examined by the Piggotts, one apears to be Neolithic, one Saxon and the remainder Bronze Age in date. All were formerly listed and described as part of this monument record, but have now been recorded separately. See individual child monument records for specific details about each.
(ST 95501069:ST 95621064:ST 95881056) Tumuli (NR) (sites of) (NAT) (twice). (1)
Round barrows between 200 ft. and 250 ft. above O.D., extend in an irregular line from W.to E. on the northwood-facing slope of a dry combe which falls E. to the Crichel brook. All were excavated in 1938 by S. and C.M Piggott; they are no longer visible on the ground and former dimensions, etc. are recorded.
(A) Bowl (95381067), covering a primary cremation, associated with a calcite double-spaced bead, in a circular grave cut into
the chalk; diam. 25 ft., ht. l ft. (Piggott, 18).
(B) Bowl (95501069), disturbed in the past, yielded a cremation, probably primary, under an inverted cinerary urn in a shallow pit in the chalk; diam. 35 ft., ht. 1 1/2 ft. (Piggott, 12).
(C) Bowl (95621064), with a primary crouched inhumation near the centre associated with a leaf-shaped arrowhead; diam.
40 ft., ht. l1 ft. (Piggott, 13).
(D) Bowl (95731061), covering a primary cremation in a pit cut into the chalk; diam. 12 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 15).
(E) Bowl (95741058), containing a primary crouched inhumation with a trephined skull, associated with a bell beaker, in a
central grave cut into the chalk, and a secondary cremation near it; diam. 17 ft., ht. less than 1 ft. (Piggott, 14).
(F) Bowl (95771060), apparently disturbed by earlier digging, probably had contained a primary inhumation associated with a
small long-necked beaker; diam. 25 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 16),
(G) Bowl (95711050), containing a primary crouched inhumation, associated with a bronze awl and a long-necked beaker, in a
large grave cut into the chalk. An urn of 'degenerate food-vessel' type was found in a secondary position in this grave. Diam. 18 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 17).
(H) Bowl (95891056), yielding a primary cremation and four secondary cremations, one of them associated with an inverted
sub-biconical urn. An intrusive crouched inhumation near the edge of the mound was probably Romano-British or pagan Saxon
Diam. 40 ft., ht. 2 ft., with a horseshoe-shaped ditch with a causeway on the E.
(J) Bowl (95901060), with three extended inhumations, perhaps intrusive and probably of pagan Saxon origin, in a shallow
scraping in the chalk; diam. 20 ft.. ht. less than 1 ft.
(K) Bowl (95911054), covering a large pit, beside which was a primary cremation in a barrel urn with incised chevron
decoration of Cornish type; diam. 45 ft., ht. 1 ft., with a shallow ditch. (Piggott, 8). (2-3)
Piggott's location map (op cit) shows barrow (E) lying slightly N of barrows (D) and (F). It is probably therefore situated at ST 95741062. (4)
(C) Launceston. ST 956 107 (sic) Listed by Kinnes as a Neolithic round barrow with 1 adult inhumation, with a leaf arrowhead between the ribs, lying on a layer of flint nodules with 2 postholes at the feet. (5)
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The Launceston Down South Group comprises thirteen barrows (36–44); four of them lie in the neighbouring parish of Long Crichel (see Dorset V). They are between 200 ft. and 250 ft. above O.D., and extend in an irregular line from W. to E. on the northward-facing slope of a dry combe which falls E. to the Crichel brook. All these barrows were excavated in 1938 by S. and C. M. Piggott (Arch., XC (1944), 47–80); they are no longer visible on the ground and former dimensions, etc. are recorded.
(36) Bowl (95381067), covering a primary cremation, associated with a calcite double-spaced bead, in a circular grave cut into the chalk; diam. 25 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 18).
(37) Bowl (95501069), disturbed in the past, yielded a cremation, probably primary, under an inverted cinerary urn in a shallow pit in the chalk; diam. 35 ft., ht. 1½ ft. (Piggott, 12).
(38) Bowl (95621064), with a primary crouched inhumation near the centre associated with a leaf-shaped arrowhead; diam. 40 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 13).
(39) Bowl (95731061), covering a primary cremation in a pit cut into the chalk; diam. 12 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 15).
(40) Bowl (95741058), containing a primary crouched inhumation with a trephined skull, associated with a bell beaker, in a central grave cut into the chalk, and a secondary cremation near it; diam. 17 ft., ht. less than 1 ft. (Piggott, 14).
(41) Bowl (95771060), apparently disturbed by earlier digging, probably had contained a primary inhumation associated with a small long-necked beaker; diam. 25 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 16).
(42) Bowl (95711050), containing a primary crouched inhumation, associated with a bronze awl and a long-necked beaker, in a large grave cut into the chalk. An urn of 'degenerate food-vessel' type was found in a secondary position in this grave. Diam. 18 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Piggott, 17).
(43) Bowl (95891056), yielding a primary cremation and four secondary cremations, one of them associated with an inverted sub-biconical urn (Arch. J., CXIX (1962), 41, 62). An intrusive crouched inhumation near the edge of the mound was probably Romano-British or pagan Saxon. Diam. 40 ft., ht. 2 ft., with a horseshoe-shaped ditch with a causeway on the E. (Piggott, 9; Dorset Barrows, Long Crichel, No. 22).
(44) Bowl (95901060), with three extended inhumations, perhaps intrusive and probably of pagan Saxon origin, in a shallow scraping in the chalk; diam. 20 ft., ht. less than 1 ft. (Piggot, 6; Dorset Barrows, Long Crichel, No. 19).
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Details of disc barrow on Pastscape
A disc barrow located on the boundary between the parishes of Long Crichel and Tarrant Launceston. Listed by RCHME as Tarrant Launceston 46 and by Grinsell as Long Crichel 25. RCHME described it as a circular ditch circa 150 feet in diameter with traces of both an inner and an outer bank visible. A small mound is located within the enclosed area, slightly southeast of the centre. The linear earthwork ST 91 SW 40 appears to cut the outer bank on the southern side of the barrow.
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Details of Barrow cemetery on Pastscape
A group of up to seven round barrows, all ploughed out, clustered together on Launceston Down. RCHME mentions "at least 5 small barrows located around ST 95451145", whereas the Ordnance Survey initially identified 6 (marked on the 1891 6 inch map), a seventh being identified in 1954. Grinsell, following the Ordnance Survey, lists six barrows (as Tarrant Launceston 19a-f). The area plan in RCHME's "Bokerley Dyke" volume again shows only 5. This group has been identified with 5 "low, small tumuli" examined by Warne and Shipp "on the longest day of 1864". Numbered 36 - 40 by Warne, details are as follows: 36 - nothing found; 37 - a secondary burial comprising a damaged urn containing cremated bone and ashes plus the tip of a bronze dagger; 38 - a possible primary cremation in an urned contained within a pit below the mound; 39 - a probable secondary cremation in an upright urn; 40 - a primary cremation within a pit below the mound, plus two secondary cremations, one within an urn. Further discoveries occurred in 1938. S and CM Piggott investigated some World War 1 training trenches , one of which cut through the barrow group. They found the remains of three Deverel-Rimbury vessels exposed in the sides of the trench, each containing cremated bone, one of them also containing a bronze spearhead fragment. A small hole was also found, containing the remains of a further pottery vessel but lacking any associated cremation. The Piggotts felt that these represented an "urnfield" (ie a cremation cemetery rather than a further levelled barrow) broadly contemporary with the small barrows, the pottery recovered by Warne being broadly comparable.
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The Launceston Down North Group comprised a cluster of at least five small barrows located around 95451145, 220 ft. above O.D. on the southward-facing slope of a dry combe falling E. to the Crichel brook; all have now been levelled by cultivation, but each barrow was examined by J. H. Austen in 1864. One yielded nothing. Another yielded a cremation, probably secondary, in an urn now lost, together with 'the point of a bronze spear or dagger'. A third barrow yielded a primary cremation in a barrel urn of 'South Lodge' type, in a pit cut in the Chalk. A fourth barrow yielded a cremation, probably secondary, in a similar urn. A fifth barrow yielded a primary cremation in a pit, and two cremations, probably secondary, above it, one of the latter having a plain urn (C.T.D., Pt. 2, nos. 36–40; Ant. J., XIII (1933), 447; Arch. J., CXIX (1962), 20, 54, 55). In 1938 four more urns, not covered by barrows but apparently part of an urnfield, were found in the vicinity of the barrow group; three of them contained cremations, one with a fragment of a bronze spearhead (Arch., XC (1944), 50, 60, 61).
(45) Bowl (95821132), now levelled by ploughing, but visible as a ring-ditch soil-mark, lies at 230 ft. above O.D. on the northward-facing slope of a dry combe which falls E. to the Crichel brook. The first Dyke noted above (16) skirts it on the S. Diam. about 30 ft.
(46) Disc (95881133), 70 yds. E. of (45) and in a similar situation and condition, lies on the parish boundary with Long Crichel; it consists of a circular ditch, 150 ft. in diameter, with traces of an inner and an outer bank, and of a small mound S.E. of the centre. Dyke (16) appears to cut the outer bank on the S.
(47) Bowl (95731150), on the S.-facing slope of a dry combe, 220 ft. above O.D. and now levelled by ploughing; diam. about 30 ft.
(48) Bowl (95771153), 55 yds. N.E. of (47) and on the parish boundary with Long Crichel, is now levelled; former diam. 60 ft., ht. 1 ft. (Dorset Barrows, Long Crichel No. 4). Beaker sherds were found in a rabbit scrape on the mound in 1937 (note by C. D. Drew, D.C.M.).
(49) Bowl (95591190), in the extreme N. of the parish, on a gentle N. slope at 250 ft. above O.D., was excavated by S. and C. M. Piggott in 1938 (No. 10); it contained a primary cremation in a barrel urn (Arch., XC (1944), 61–2, 72–3; Arch. J., CXIX (1962), 55; Helinium, I (1961), 116).
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THE LAUNCESTON SEPULCHRALIA
Details of cremation cemetery on Pastscape
Monument No. 210246
A cremation cemetery of possible Early or Middle Bronze Age date discovered during the mid-19th century and reported on briefly by Charles Warne. It was discovered by some labourers "employed in the preparation of the Down for planting", something that required deep trenching. Warne's account is a little ambiguous - he refers to the labourers' discovery of a dense layer of flints some 12 to 18 inches deep and circa 12 feet in diameter just below the surface. Beneath this layer was "a stratum of dark unctuous mould, interspersed with charcoal, ashes, pieces of bone, and numerous fragments of coarse pottery; whilst at the bottom appeared a range of cists cut in the natural chalk, which were filled with burnt bones and ashes". Warne also stated that there "seemed to have been a series of these sepulchralia within a space of one hundred and fifty yards, all presenting an uniformity of arrangement and contents". The date of these burials is unclear. Warne compared the contents with items found in some of the barrows in the area, suggesting an Early or Middle Bronze Age date. The pottery vessels do not appear to survive, and no illustration of any of them is known.
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The Hyde Hill Plantation Group comprises thirteen barrows (23–35) in two concentrations in and S.E. of the plantation; they lie between 340 ft. and 360 ft. above O.D. along the crest of a broad Chalk ridge between the Tarrant and Crichel Brooks. Most of them have been severely damaged by ploughing and (28), (29), (31) and (35) have been obliterated. Two barrows excavated by Warne in 1840 probably lay in this group; one of them yielded a primary cremation under a flint cairn, the other yielded only charcoal and ashes (C.T.D., Pt. 1, Nos. 39 and 40). The 'Launceston Sepulchralia' examined by Warne in 1840 probably lay in this area; it appears to have been a cremation cemetery, with the cremations in groups of holes in the chalk, each group being covered with a layer of closely packed flint nodules (C.T.D., Pt. 1, 57–8; Arch. J., CVIII (1951), 14, note 1).
(23) Bowl (95081041), in the plantation; diam. 45 ft., ht. 2½ ft., with traces of surrounding ditch.
(24) Bowl (95111043); diam. 40 ft., ht. 2½ ft., with traces of surrounding ditch.
(25) Bowl (95141043), immediately E. of the plantation, has been much denuded by ploughing; diam. about 30 ft., ht. less than 1 ft.
(26) Bowl (95111038), immediately S. of the plantation; diam. 40 ft., ht. 3½ ft.
(27) Bowl (95161040), now nearly levelled by ploughing; diam. about 28 ft.
(28) Bowl (95151042), now levelled by ploughing; former diam. about 25 ft.
(29) Bowl (95281032), now levelled by ploughing; former diam. about 21 ft.
(30) Bowl (95341024), heavily ploughed; diam. 40 ft., ht. 1 ft.
(31) Bowl (95401017), now levelled by ploughing; former diam. 44 ft.
(32) Bowl (95421020), a flat-topped mound; diam., diminished by ploughing, 48 ft., ht. 3½ ft.; traces of surrounding ditch.
(33) Bowl (95451019), a steep-sided mound; diam. 55 ft., ht. 8 ft.; with well-defined ditch (Dorset Barrows, Long Crichel, No. 24).
(34) Bowl (95441021), damaged by ploughing and by digging on the S.; diam. 36 ft., ht. 1½ ft.
(35) Bowl (95451024), now levelled by ploughing; former diam. 33 ft., ht. 1½ ft.
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Details of barrows on Pastscape
The Hyde Hill Plantation group of Bronze Age round barrows, which initially comprised 13 barrows in two concentrations within and south east of the plantation, along the crest of a broad chalk ridge between the Tarrant and Crichel Brooks. Barrow "A" is recorded here and the other 12 barrows, previously described here, have now been recorded separately, as ST 91 SE 193 to 204. Two of the barrows have been tentatively identified with a pair of barrows opened by Charles Warne in 1840, although it is impossible to determine which. Several additional barrows have subsequently been identified (see ST 91 SE 233, 234, 236 and ST 91 SW 116). Barrow "A" is a Bronze Age bowl barrow which was listed by RCHME as Tarrant Launceston 23 and by Grinsell as Tarrant Launceston 14a. Lying within the plantation itself, RCHME described the barrow as a mound 45 feet in diameter and 2.5 feet high, with traces of a surrounding ditch.
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Details of Settlement Site on Pastscape
(15) Enclosure (948095), probably Iron Age or Romano-British, lies 500yds, E of Launceston Farm on the S.W. slope of a chalk spur, between 250 ft and 275 ft above O.D., overlooking the Tarrant valley. The site, revealed by a soil-mark on air photographs (C.U.A.P., ANC 75, AQY 90), is an almost circular enclosure, about 500 ft in diameter, defined by a narrow ditch. There are traces of an entrance on the N. side, and of a ditch running N.W. in a curve for some 500 ft. from just E. of the entrance. Faint traces of a ditched feature are found inside the enclosure, and there is evidence of a smaller angular enclosure attached to the exterior on the S.E. (1) Tarrant Launceston 15. Subcircular enclosure, area 3ha. [Plans of comparable sites]. (2-3)
The curvilinear enclosure referred to above (1-3) is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs taken in 2006, which show a number of probable causeways between the irregular ditch sections that define the curvilinear enclosure, suggesting that the site is possibly a Neolithic causewayed enclosure. (4)
The later Prehistoric settlement site referred to above (1-4) is visible as soilmarks and cropmarks on aerial photographs, including source 4. The oval enclosure is centred at ST 9481 0950 and comprises an arrangement of short sinuous ditches and pits which combine to form a single circuit defining an oval enclosure. The enclosure measures 183m long by 172m at its widest points and is orientated roughly WSW / ENE. It sits between the 70m and 80m contours on the south-western slope of a chalk spur overlooking the Tarrant Valley. TL15's morphology and topographic setting argue strongly for the site?s re-interpretation as a Neolithic causewayed enclosure (for example, see Robin Hoods Ball SU 14 NW 3 / UID: 218882). The site is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs taken in 1946, which indicates that the site has been ploughed for at least 60 years and that any sub-surface features may therefore be severely truncated. (5)
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(14) Iron Age and Romano-British settlement (925092), on Blandford Down, lies on the gentle E. slope of a Chalk ridge between 325 ft. and 375 ft. above O.D. The site, severely damaged during the present century by a military camp, comprises a nucleated occupation area of about eight acres characterised by low earthworks, now much disturbed, among which a number of sunken platforms are probably the sites of former buildings. The area of occupation lies within a larger area, about 500 yds. in diameter, defined by shallow ditches, low banks and scarps. At least four contemporary tracks in the form of shallow hollow-ways, 25 ft. to 50 ft. across, run into this area. Outside the settlement on the N.E., air photographs (C.U.A.P., AMO 2–4, AGY 87; N.M.R., ST 9309/1–4) show a small subrectangular enclosure (93000947), about 250 ft. by 150 ft., associated with linear ditches and possibly with other enclosures (Plate 78); it lies on the N. side of a track which extends E.N.E. from the settlement for at least 1,000 yds., as far as 937097. 'Celtic' fields (Group 72) extend S.W. of the settlement, but nowhere do they join it. (Sumner, Cranborne Chase, 74 and pl. xlv.)
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Details of settlement and barrows on Pastscape
(ST 92650920) Settlement (NR). (1)
Small sherds of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery, including a possible small pot base of New Forest ware, were found during investigation. Within the area of the settlement are two probable barrows 'A' (ST 92770918) and 'B' (ST 92540922), both with large central hollows but no surrounding ditches. Dimensions, 7.0m diameter by 0.6m high and 14.8m diameter by 1.3m high respectively. See 1:2500 plan attached. (2) Iron Age and Romano-British settlement 925092 on Blandford Down The site, severely damaged during the present century comprises a nucleated occupation area of about eight acres characterised by low earthworks, now much disturbed, among which a number of sunken platforms are probably the sites of former buildings. The area of occupation lies within a larger area, about 500 yds. in diameter, defined by shallow ditches, low banks and scarps. At least four contemporary tracks in the form of shallow hollow-ways, 25 ft. to 50 ft. across, run into this area. Outside the settlement on the N.E., air photographs show a small subrectangular enclosure (93000947), about 250 ft. by 150 ft., associated with linear ditches and possibly with other enclosures it lies on the N. side of a track which extends E.N.E. from the settlement for at least 1,000 yds., as far as 937097. 'Celtic' fields extend S.W. of the settlement, but nowhere do they join it. (3)
ST 92710924. Iron Age and Romano-British settlement and two Bronze Age bowl barrows on Blandford Race Down. The area occupied by the site has been disturbed by military activity during the 20th century. This disturbance includes a zigzag trench, used for training purposes, probably early in the 20th century. Scheduling amended. (4)
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Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
(ST 92940884) Long Barrow (NR). (1) The barrow is situated in the area of military camp and has been fenced around. (2)
(17) LONG BARROW 92950885, on Blandford Race Down. Orientated S.E.-N.W., the mound is parallel-sided, 115 ft. long by 48 ft. wide, and up to 6 ft. high. It may be the one opened in 1840 by J. H. Austen, who found an extended inhumation, probably intrusive, 2 1/2 ft. from the top. (3)
ST 92940884. Long barrow; possibly the one opened by J H Austen and found to contain an extended inhumation, probably of much later date. The barrow mound measures 44 metres long, 18 metres wide and stands up to 1.8 metres high. Scheduling amended. (4)
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(17) Long Barrow (92950885), on Blandford Race Down, lies at over 350 ft. above O.D. on a gentle E. slope, just off the crest of a Chalk ridge. Orientated S.E.-N.W., the mound is parallel-sided, 115 ft. long by 48 ft. wide, and up to 6 ft. high. It may be the one opened in 1840 by J. H. Austen, who found an extended inhumation, probably intrusive, 2½ ft. from the top (C.T.D. Pt. 2, No. 27). (O.S., Map of Neolithic Wessex, No. 157.)
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(24) Pimperne Long Barrow (91751050), one of the finest surviving burial mounds in Wessex, lies along the boundary with Pimperne on the summit of a Chalk ridge, at an altitude of 370 ft. above O.D. Aligned from N.N.W. to S.S.E., the mound is parallel-sided, 330 ft. long, 65 ft. wide and up to 9 ft. high. On the E. it is flanked by a berm up to 10 ft. wide and by a ditch 40 ft. across, and up to 4 ft. deep. On the W. side there are traces of a narrow berm at the N. and S. ends, and of a ditch narrower and shallower than that on the E. (Sumner, Cranborne Chase 75–6 and pl. xlvi.)
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol4/pp96-101#h3-0004
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Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
(ST 91751049) Pimperne Long Barrow (NR). (1)
PIMPERNE LONG BARROW (91751050), one of the finest surviving burial mounds in Wessex, lies along the boundary with Pimperne on the summit of a Chalk ridge, at an altitude of 370 ft. above O.D. Aligned from N.N.W. to S.S.E., the mound is parallel-sided, 330 ft. long, 65 ft. wide and up to 9 ft. high. On the E. it is flanked by a berm up to 10 ft. wide and by a ditch 40 ft. across, and up to 4 ft. deep. On the W. side there are traces of a narrow berm at the N. and S. ends, and of a ditch narrower and shallower than that on the E. (2)
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Pimperne East Group comprises five small bowl barrows situated near the E. boundary of the parish, some 250 yds. S.W. of Pimperne Long Barrow (Tarrant Hinton (24)). They lie on a gentle S. slope at 350 ft. above O.D. and are levelled by ploughing. They remain undated; because of their small size it has been suggested that they may be of the Iron Age or Saxon (Dorset Barrows, 125).
(31) Bowl (91521034).
(32) Bowl (91531036).
(33) Bowl (91551035).
(34) Bowl (91571035).
(35) Bowl (91561033).
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
(Centred ST 915103) Tumuli (NR) (sites of) (NAT). (1)
Pimperne East Group comprises five small bowl barrows situated near the E. boundary of the parish, some 250 yds. S.W. of Pimperne Long Barrow.
They lie on a gentle S. slope at 350 ft. above O.D. and are levelled by ploughing. They remain undated; because of their small size it has been suggested that they may be of the Iron Age or Saxon.
(A) Bowl (91521034).
(B) Bowl (91531036).
(C) Bowl (91551035).
(D) Bowl (91571035).
(E) Bowl (91561033). (2)
The mounds are visible on the ground only as small flinty patches in a grass field.
Situated at ST 91591039 is a slight mound (F) 9.0m in diameter and 0.2m high. It is unlikely to be a barrow, but may have been part of a bank or lynchet mutilated by ploughing. (3)
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The Chestnut Farm Group comprises at least nine barrows, all totally flattened by cultivation, but visible as soil-mark ringditches on air photographs (Allen 931, 933, Ashmolean), (Plate 55); they lie at about 225 ft. above O.D. on the N.E. slope of a spur immediately W. of the village. There are possibly traces of other barrows in the group. A linear ditch, seen on the photograph, which makes an angular detour around barrow (24) and cuts into barrow (25), appears to be of comparatively recent origin. References and dimensions are approximate.
(20) Barrow (90250930), possibly of two phases, with twin concentric ditches; diam. of mound about 65 ft.
(21) Barrow (90270929); diam. about 40 ft.
(22) Double Barrow (90290928), within a continuous ditch, measures about 60 ft. by 30 ft.
(23) Barrow (90270927), with possible pits inside the ditch;
(24) Barrow (90300926); diam. about 55 ft.
(25) Barrow (90290923); diam. about 65 ft.
(26) Barrow (90330924); diam. about 50 ft.
(27) Barrow (90360927); diam. about 65 ft.
(28) Barrow (90350917); diam. about 50 ft.
(29) Barrow (90450992), at 250 ft. above O.D. on a S.E. slope just N. of the village, is now levelled by ploughing, but is visible as a ring-ditch on air photographs (C.U.A.P., ABX 98); diam. about 45 ft.
(30) Barrow (91370870), at over 350 ft. above O.D. on the ridge-top immediately W. of Blandford Camp, is now levelled.
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Details of Barrows on Pastscape
The Chestnut Farm Group of at least nine barrows, all totally flattened by cultivation, but visible as soil-mark ring-ditches on air photographs. There are possibly traces of other barrows in the group. A linear ditch, seen on the photograph, which makes an angular detour around barrow (E) and cuts into barrow (F), appears to be of comparatively recent origin. References and dimensions are approximate.
(A) Barrow 90250930 possibly of two phases, with twin concentric ditches ; diam. of mound about 65 ft.
(B) Barrow 90270929 diam. about 40 ft.
(C) Double Barrow 90290928, within a continuous ditch, measures about 60 ft. by 30 ft.
(D) Barrow 90270927 with possible pits inside the ditch.
(E) Barrow 90300926 diam. about 55 ft.
(F) Barrow 90290923 diam. about 65 ft.
(G) Barrow 90330924 diam. about 50 ft.
(H) Barrow 90360927 diam. about 65 ft.
(J) Barrow 90350917 diam. about 50 ft. (1)
All barrows and barrow cemetries within Cranbourne Chase are to be asessed for scheduling. The barrows of this cemetery had all been levelled by cultivation by 1969 and they continued to be ploughed subsequently. Most of the group is still in arable. The southern barrow now lies in a pasture field and is grass covered, while one or two of the others lie on the edge of arable and pasture. An examination of recent aerial photographs held by Dorset County Council, including those taken in 1997, ws inconclusive. An extensive trawl of all recent aerial photographs combined with geophysical survey and/or archaeological evaluation may indicate the extent of surviving deposits. However, it is suggested that this barrow group should not be scheduled at this time.(2)
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(15) Iron Age Settlement (891097), on Pimperne Down, excavated in 1960–3 by I. M. Blake and D. W. Harding, lies about 350 ft. above O.D. on a gentle S.E. slope near the summit of a N.—S. Chalk ridge. (fn. 1) The settlement comprises an oval, univallate enclosure of 11½ acres, bisected by the PimperneStourpaine road and for the greater part visible only on air photographs. Until recently the N.E. sector survived unploughed and it was there that excavations were largely concentrated. 'Celtic' fields (Group (73)) adjoin the enclosure on the N.E. and a smaller enclosure (16) lies immediately S. of it. The excavations indicate early Iron Age occupation, with Second or late First 'A' culture. The bank survived to a height of 1 ft. to 1½ ft. in the N.E. sector. The ditch was initially of shallow 'V' profile, becoming steeper towards a narrow, flat bottom, and reaching a depth of 5 ft. to 6 ft. below present ground level.
Two entrances to the enclosure were demonstrated. Excavation of the E. entrance revealed a parallel line of post-holes, 8 ft. apart, which extended a little over 20 ft. into the interior of the camp from the causeway between the ditch terminals. Recutting of the post-holes indicated that the entrance passageway had been reinforced or rebuilt in a second phase of construction. The ditch on both sides of the entrance was flat-bottomed, with nearly vertical sides, but on the southern side of the gateway a rubbish pit, into which quantities of animal bones had been thrown, had been cut into the ditch after its initial silting. N. of the entrance the ditch had been refilled shortly after construction, and it had been sealed by a closely-packed flint capping beneath which was found a human femur and the right half of a human skull.
Excavation of the S. entrance revealed three post-holes spanning the entrance causeway, one of them of adequate size for a post to sustain a gate. The ditch system of the S. entrance was more complex than that on the E. The main enclosure ditch on the S.W. side of the causeway was intersected by a shallower ditch which led outwards from the camp to a secondary enclosure (16) on the S.E. This 'antenna' ditch was not of defensive proportions and more probably served to guide cattle into the camp from the secondary enclosure. At least three major structural phases were represented. Within the butt end of the main enclosure ditch, adjacent to its intersection with the 'antenna' ditch, were found the semi-articulated remains of part of a horse and the skull of an ox, together with two small rectangular chalk lamps. Taken in conjunction with human remains at the E. entrance, there are grounds for supposing that these were deliberate deposits, chosen with regard to the respective functions of each entrance.
The existence of an entrance on the N. side of the camp was indicated in 1963 by magnetometer survey, but no excavations took place in this area.
Inside the settlement the principal discovery was the remains of a circular timber house (Plate 55). It consisted essentially of two concentric circles of post-holes. The inner circle, 32 ft. in diameter, must have been for the main supports of the roof since there was no central post-hole or group of holes. The outer circle, 42 ft. in diameter, was composed of smaller stakeholes cut not more than 9 ins. into the chalk; it probably retained a wall of woven saplings. A larger and less continuous circle of shallow scoops and irregular holes may have held external supports for the walls and roof rafters.
Occupation was clearly in two principal phases, in the second of which the house was completely rebuilt, although the same porched entrance served both phases. A baked clay hearth was located within the house, together with a number of shallow post-holes, the latter probably associated with domestic appliances such as looms or drying racks.
Small finds included a bronze finger-ring, two iron arrow-heads and several fragments of shale bracelets. Pottery included coarse-ware shouldered jars with finger-tip ornament and some haematite-coated bowls. The occupation of the site should most probably be assigned to the 5th century B.C., but insufficient stratified material was available to supply a satisfactory chronology of the structural phases represented.
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Details of Settlement on Pastscape
An irregular univallate oval enclosure at Pimperne, partly excavated in 1960-63. Located on a gentle southeast-facing slope near the summit of a chalk ridge, the enclosure is circa 11.5 acres in extent. At the time of excavation, the northeastern sector of the enclosing bank and ditch was still extant as (plough-damaged) earthworks. The site has since been levelled by the plough and survives only as cropmarks. A second, smaller enclosure lies immediately to the south (ST 80 NE 32), and the two appear to be linked by a linear ditch. "Celtic" fields (ST 81 SE 34) extend northeast along the slope from the main enclosure, and appear to be connected with it. Excavations were small scale, but confirmed the presence of an enclosing ditch with internal bank. Evidence for revetment of the bank was poor, with the exception of the area around the eastern gateway. The eaastern entrance was marked by inturned bank terminals accompanied by parallel lines of postholes. The northern ditch terminal contained a human femur and part of a skull beneath a layer of flint nodules. The southern terminal featured an extensive midden deposit which also included some human remains. A northern entrance was suggested by geophysical survey, but is not supported by cropmark or earlier earthwork evidence. A southern entrance was confirmed by excavation. One of the ditch terminals featured deliberate backfill containing horse and ox bones, among other items. A linear ditch headed south from this entrance to the smaller enclosure ST 80 NE 32. Inside the main enclosure was a substantial roundhouse. 2 phases of construction were evident, each comprising 2 concentric circles of postholes with a southeast-facing entrance. A reconstruction was built at Butser Ancient Farm. Pottery and radiocarbon dates suggest a date circa 800-400 BC for occupation of the site. A dewpond in the enclosure contained Iron Age potsherds but is effectively undated.
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(16) Long Barrow (95061280), S. of Chettle House, lies at the top of a gentle S.E.—facing slope on a low spur at 275 ft. above sea-level. The mound is orientated E.N.E.—W.S.W. and is 320 ft. long, 65 ft. wide and 8 ft. high. The W. end has been much reduced by ploughing and no side ditches are visible. When the barrow was opened, c. 1700, 'a great quantity of human bones were found, and with them heads of spears and other warlike instruments', possibly indicating pagan Saxon intrusive burials. A further secondary or intrusive burial was found in 1776. (C.T.D., Pt. 3, p. 2; Dorset Procs., XXI (1900), 144–5; Hutchins III, 567.)
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol4/pp10-13#h3-0004
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(15) Chettle Long Barrow (93741355), on the boundary with Tarrant Gunville, lies on a gentle E.-facing slope at 375 ft. above sea-level. The mound is orientated S.E.—N.W. and is 190 ft. long, 65 ft. wide and 9 ft. high. An oval hollow, 165 ft. by 48 ft. by 2 ft. deep, in an arable field along the N.E. side of the mound, probably represents a side ditch; a shallower hollow is just visible along the S.W. side. Numerous human bones were found when part of the barrow was removed to make a grotto some time before 1767. (C.T.D., Pt. 3, p. 1; Dorset Procs., XXI (1900), 144.)
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(102) Longbury or Slaughter Barrow (78752723), a long barrow, lies N. of Bainly Bottom at an altitude of about 320 ft., on the Corallian Beds; it is orientated E.–W. and measures 130 ft. in length, 40 ft. in width and up to 6½ ft. in height. When opened in 1802 several skeletons, perhaps primary burials, were found on the original ground level; when opened again in 1855 several other skeletons were found, perhaps secondary or intrusive, and fragments of 'some very rude earthen vessel'. A small excavation in 1951–2 gave no significant results. In 1953 part of a secondary or intrusive skeleton was found in the upper part of the mound. (C.T.D., Pt. 3, No. 84; Notes & Queries, 1st series, XII (1855), 364; Hutchins III, 615 (note), 662; Dorset Procs. 73(1951), 113; 76 (1954), 96.)
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol4/pp27-36#h3-0005
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Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
(ST 78752723) Longbury (NAT) Long Barrow (NR). (1)
A grass covered long barrow orientated east-west which has been extensively mutilated. It is 40.0m long and averages 13.0m in width, and is approximately 1.4m in height throughout.
6.0m from the east end a V-shaped trench has been dug across the mound from north to south, this trench is 3.5m wide at the top and does not go below the natural surface; it shows the composition of the mound to be a mixture of earth and small stone slabs.
There are four other depressions along the top of the mound, and the west end has been almost destroyed for 9.0m by a silage pit, the upcast from which has been thrown to the north. There are no visible side ditches. (2)
Longbury or Slaughter Barrow. A long barrow aligned east-west, and measuring 130ft long, 40ft wide and 6 1/2ft high. In 1802 the barrow was opened, when several skeletons, perhaps primary burials, were found on the original ground level. In 1855 it was again opened at
the east end when several skeletons were found, perhaps secondary or intrusive, and fragments of "some very rude earthen vessel". A small excavation by T Porter in 1951-2 produced no significant results. In 1953 part of a seconday or intrusive skeleton was found in the upper part of the mound. (3-4) ST 78752723. 'Longbury' (name in local use). No change except the silage pit at the west end has now been levelled, and the material
spread to the north and south at this point. This has resulted in the long barrow being reduced to an apparent length of 36.0m; it remains under grass. 1:2500 AM revised. (5)
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Third Milestone Group (SY 69 SW). Five barrows in an irregular W.-E. line on the crest of a ridge immediately S. of the Roman road three miles W. of Dorchester. (114) and (115) have probably been excavated twice, by Warne and Sydenham in 1839–40 and Cunnington in 1885, though it is impossible to correlate the accounts. One contained a primary extended inhumation with a chalk-filled urn and an antler in a grave 7 ft. by 4 ft. by 7 ins. deep beneath a flint cairn, above which was a child inhumation with a food-vessel (in D.C.M.) and a cremation beneath an inverted biconical urn. In the top of the mound was an extended inhumation. The other contained three primary inhumations, and two further inhumations only 1 ft. above them, all in a grave 5 ft. in diam. and nearly 5 ft. deep beneath a flint cairn, above which were two inhumations. (Archaeologia xxx, 331, nos. 2 & 3; C.T.D., mopr, nos. 26 & 30.) Of Cunnington's two barrows, both previously disturbed, one contained remains of a large cairn, two inhumations and fragments of three urns, and the other parts of an inhumation in a cairn (MS., nos. 24 & 25).
'Earthworks: Round Barrows', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 2, South east (London, 1970), pp. 434-480. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol2/pp434-480
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(59) Stones (SY 58 NE; 59658688), two recumbent and partially buried sarsens, lie 5 yds. apart 350 yds. W. of Hampton Barn on top of Portesham Hill at 650 ft. above O.D. and on gentle slopes down to N. and E. They measure 10½ ft. by 4 ft. and 7½ ft. by 3 ft., the larger lying to the N. These two stones are probably the only remains of the 'collapsed dolmen' illustrated in Dorset Procs. XXIX (1908), lxxiv. The photograph, in which four or five stones are visible, suggests a collapsed chamber with a large tilted capstone. Crawford listed this as a long barrow orientated N.W. to S.E., with the two stones presumably as the remains of a chamber at the S.E. end, but there is now no evidence for this. Just to the N. is a probable round barrow, Portesham (44). (LVG I; O.S. Map of Neolithic Wessex, no. 144; G. E. Daniel, P.C.T.E.W. (1949), 235.)
'Stones', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 2, South east (London, 1970), pp. 512-515. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol2/pp512-515 [accessed 22 March 2016].
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Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
Remains of alleged Neolithic long barrow also interpreted as two recumbent and partially buried sarsens with a probable Bronze Age bowl barrow to the north. The monument has suffered plough damage; the stones were intact and in position in 1990 but by June 2006 they had gone and the monument appeared only as a slight circular rise in the field.
(SY 59648689) "?Destroyed dolmen - both fallen. Mound to NW". (1)
Two large stones, perhaps at the E end of an otherwise destroyed chambered long barrow. Probable E-W orientation. (2)
(SY 59648689) Long Barrow (NR). (3)
Two recumbent stones, each with a NE-SW orientation. The stones lie 6.0m apart; both are of conglomerate; the W stone is the
larger and is approximately 3.0m long, 1.5m wide, with 0.6m visible above ground level. The E stone is 2.0m long, 1.0m wide
and 0.5m above ground level. 10.0m to the NW of the western stone is a grass covered mound 17.0m in diameter and 0.5m high. There is no other evidence of a mound connected wth the stones, and although this mound is mutilated it tends to give a NW-SE orientation to the long barrow. Side ditches are not discernable. (4) (SY 59628687) Stones (NAT). (5)
SY 59658688. These stones and mound are listed by OGS Crawford in the Map of Neolithic Wessex (a) as a long barrow orientated
NW to SE, with the two stones presumably as the remains of the chamber at the SE end, but there is now no evidence for this
(8). Instead RCHM describe the site as two recumbent and partially buried sarsens with a probable ?bowl barrow to the N.
The two stones are probably the only remains of a 'collapsed dolmen' illustrated in Authy 6, which is described by Daniel
(7) as of doubtful authenticity. The photograph which illustrates them shows four or five stones and suggests a
collapsed chamber with a large tilted capstone. The probable barrow to the N is about 67ft diameter, 21/2 ft high and has
been much ploughed. (6-8)
Portesham I. Long barrow listed by Grinsell (9), with an amendment (10) quoting the RCHM. (9-10)
SY 595867. Long barrow 300 metres west of Hampton Barn at the top of Portesham Hill. Scheduled. (11-12)
The stones were intact and in position in 1990 but by June 2006 they had gone and the monument appeared only as a slight circular rise in the field. [13]
The site lies in an area of set aside in the corner of an arable field. The remains comprise a very slight, ovoid mound, orientated N/S, 23m long, 20m wide and 0.3m high. It is difficult to ascertain whether this is the remains of a ploughed over round barrow or long mound. The stones described above remained until the early 21st century, when they were removed and possibly buried by the edge of the field (information from EH Historic Environment Field Adviser) (14).
The site was surveyed using differential GPS at a scale of 1: 200 as part of a survey of the long barrows on the South Dorset Ridgeway carried out by English Heritage and the Ridgeway Survey Group (15).
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(58) Stone Circle (SY 58 NE; 59628650), on Portesham Hill, stands 550 yds. S.E. of Hampton Barn on a level site about 680 ft. above O.D. (Fig. p. 514). Excavations in 1965, by Dr. G. J. Wainwright of the Ministry of Public Building and Works, established that the surviving stones were not bedded and that there had been an earlier circle. This circle, represented by the sockets of stones, lay under and to the W. of the field bank which crosses the site. It was 18 ft. to 20 ft. in internal diameter and was composed of nine stones, set in two arcs to N. and S.; the E. and W. sides were defined by narrow V-sectioned ditches. A hollowed track, running up to the circle on the N., was revetted on its W. side by small flat stones, and three stake-holes were found on the perimeter of the circle immediately to the W. A low bank of clay had been constructed between the track and the stones in the N.W. quarter and the S. edge of the socket on the E. side of the track was also built up with clay and stones. The circle had been disturbed before or by the building of the field bank with its side ditches. Stones have now been placed in the excavated holes. (Information from Dr. G. J. Wainwright; Dorset Procs. XXIX (1908), lxxviii (with photograph of later circle), 250; LXXXVIII (1966), 122–7; Antiquity XIII (1939), 142, fig. 2; O.S. Map of Neolithic Wessex, no. 143; R. D'O. Good, Weyland (1945), 32.)
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Details of stone circle on Pastscape
[SY 59628648] "Small stone circle." (1)
Eighteen stones. The eastern seven form an arc, probably in situ, which would form a circle with a diameter of 43 ft. (2)
Stone Circle [O.E.] (3) Scheduled Ancient Monument: Hampton stone circle. (4)
A circle of sarsen stone, incomplete and cut across from N-S by a high hedge and bank, separating three westerly stones from thirteen others. Of the eastern ones ten are probably in their original positions, suggesting an original diameter of 35 ft for the circle. The stones are irregularly placed, and being of cube-like shapes it is impossible to decide whether they are recumbent or upright though probably the latter. [Plan shows 16 stones all told]. (5)
SY 59618650. The number of stones in the circle is not 13 as stated in Auth 6, but 15 on the east side of the hedge and 3 on the west side ofthe hedge. The stones are of sarsen and conglomerate and average 0.5m high. Most are of cube shape, but at least two are elongated and prostrate.
Seven stones of the circle form an arc on the eastern half of the site, which suggests that they are in their original positions. From this the circles diameter was probably c.11.0m. The elongated stone at the extreme N.W. of the site and the two stones to the east of it, appear to have been displaced slightly to the north.
The five other stones on the east side of the hedge and the three on the west side are all displaced, perhaps during the construction of a low field bank from which the hedge stems.
The circle does not seem likely to suffer further damage. It is set in an area of pasture of a very stoney nature and unsuitable for ploughing. (7) Surveyed on field document. (8)
Mr. R.N.R. Peers of the Dorset N H and A Soc. reported to the Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments that the stones to the west of the hedge bisecting the Circle [3 stones in all] had recently been removed. The stones were placed in the hedgerow and the field appeared to have been ploughed for the first time. To the Police, Mr. Swaffield the tenant, denied responsibility for removing the stones, and the Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently did not feel able to effect a prosecution. Two things are now being considered:- the necessity for an excavation and the urgent need for the resiting of the stones. (9)
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(65) Stones, possibly remains of chambered long barrow (SY 68 NW; 61408968; marked 'cromlech' on some maps; Plate 217), lie 1630 yds. W.S.W. of the church at 400 ft. above O.D. on a steep S.E.-facing slope, now in pasture. One large sarsen, an irregular oblong 8 ft. by 4¾ ft. and 1¼ ft. above ground, lies in the shoulder of a rounded scarp some 2 ft. high. A second sarsen, 4 ft. across and 1 ft. 8 ins. deep, projects from the scarp 5 ft. to the E. Three small boulders can be seen between these large stones. Warne listed this site among 'destroyed cromlechs' describing 'one large stone apparently the capstone with two or three others ... in a confused heap' (Ancient Dorset (1872), 136). The stones may not be in situ since the area was once part of the arable fields of Winterbourne Steepleton (Monument (12)), and the scarp is in part a lynchet ploughed down since enclosure. (LVG II; O.S. Map of Neolithic Wessex, no. 148.)
'Stones', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 2, South east (London, 1970), pp. 512-515. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol2/pp512-515 [accessed 22 March 2016].
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Hail and Welcome
Chance was born in Ratae in the year of the Rat, and grew up in the territory of the Corieltauvi.
Now living days walk west of Wale-dich (Avebury), on the border between the Atrebates, the Durotriges and the Dobunni.
Practical experience of excavation on Neolithic, Bronze-age, Roman sites.
Interested in the various tribes, how they divided their land, their agricultural calendar, common beliefs and ritual systems.
Often attends the tribal meetings held at Avebury and Stonehenge.
Contact - Chippychance on UTube
http://www.youtube.com/chippychance
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