Monument record MDO18373 - Poundbury Early Iron Age Enclosure

The remains of an Early Iron Age ditched enclosure were found beneath a later Middle Iron Age enclosure in the northern part of the 1966-1979 excavations directed by Christopher Sparey Green, during development of the Grove Trading Estate on the eastern slopes of Poundbury Camp, Dorchester. Only a small part of the south and western sides of this enclosure were found. The northern side appears to have been formed by the steep scarp down to the River Frome. A small amount of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery and some cattle bones were found in the ditch fills. There is little evidence to indicate the function of this enclosure. It does not appear to have defined a settlement area and was probably a stock enclosure.

Found during the excavations directed by Christopher Sparey Green, for the Dorchester Excavation Committee, between 1966 and 1979 during development of the Grove Trading Estate on the eastern slopes of Poundbury Camp, Dorchester (1). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published reports (1) (2).

An Early Iron Age enclosure was discovered in the northern part of the excavated area on Sites E, F and G. The ditches defining this enclosure had been almost completely destroyed by the ditches of the later Middle Iron Age enclosure on almost the same line. Parts of the ditches marking the western and southern sides of this enclosure were found, but the eastern side was not found. It may have been along the same line as the subsequent Middle Iron Age enclosure. Some small ditches continued the line of the enclosure further to the east, but it is unclear whether they are part of the same enclosure or another adjacent enclosure to the east. The northern side of the enclosure appears to have been formed by the steep scarp down to the River Frome, as excavation within 3m of the scarp revealed no ditch.

The ditch on the west side of the enclosure [E832] had a weathered flat-based profile, up to 0.5m deep, filled with brown soil and chalk rubble with a lens of flints and coarse chalk rubble down the centre. It contained Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age pottery and cattle bones. The ditch on the southern side had been almost completely destroyed by the later enclosure ditch.

There is little evidence to indicate the function of this enclosure. It does not appear to have defined a settlement area and was probably a stock enclosure.

<1> Sparey Green, C, 1987, Excavations at Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset 1966-1982. Volume 1: The Settlements (Monograph). SDO9630.

<2> Sparey Green, C, 1966-1979, Poundbury, Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10096.

Record last edited

Feb 15 2007 12:40PM