Monument record MDO2844 - Enclosed prehistoric settlement, West Compton

(SY 56909382) This earthwork is situated on a slight S.E. facing slope; it consists of an enclosure formed by a double bank on three sides and a single bank on the fourth, NE side. This was perhaps also double and an outer bank may have been destroyed by modern cultivation.

The enclosing banks average 0.4m. high and 5.0m. wide, and are 4.0m. apart. There are two apparently original entrances from 2.0m. to 3.0m. wide, one on the S.W, and one on the S.E. side. Immediately N.E of the latter the banks form a rectangular enclosure, presumably some sort of structure for it has a separate small entrance on the S. side but no obvious original through communication with the interior. The interior of the site has an earthwork of semi-oval plan, formed by a bank with an outer ditch. The bank is 4.5m. wide and 0.5m. high, and the ditch 3.0m. wide and 0.3m. deep. Integrated with the bank is a mound, 6.0m. in diameter and 1.2m. high. The mound has been mutilated by rabbits, and several shades of gritty grey black ware were found.

35.0m. S.W. of the main earthwork is a mutilated oval enclosure approximately 28.0m. x 34.0m, though the extreme N.W. end has been vitually destroyed by recent cultivation. The enclosure is formed by a bank 4.0m. wide and 0.3m. high, with a poorly defined outer ditch 2.5m. wide and 0.3m. deep. At the S.E end there is a
causewayed entrance approximately 3.0m. wide.

This small enclosure seems to be associated with the larger rectangular earthwork.

The whole area is under pasture adjacent to an IA/RB field system, and is situated towards the top of the hill with no obvious fresh water supply in its vicinity. No comparable earthwork has been seen by this investigator but the position and the pottery found suggest the possibility of an R.B. farmstead. The site is clearly visible on AP CPE/UK/2431/4150. <1>

Limited excavation in 1983 discovered that the outer bank was of flint. Finds were few and not related to structural features; they included flint flakes and an end-scraper, probably BA. The site lies within an earlier field system. <2>

Further details and photograph of the site. <3>

A prehistoric farmstead is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1948 <4>.

The settlement comprises a rectilinear enclosure, 48m by 34m (internal dimensions), which is defined by two banks on three sides and abuts a field boundary on its fourth (north-east) side. It appears to have an entrance on it's south-east side. Inside this enclosure is an oval enclosure, 15m across, possible the site of a round house. To the south of the rectilinear enclosure is a second larger oval enclosure (29m by 23m) with a possible funnel entrance facing east. Immediately to the south-east of the rectilinear enclosure is an irregular enclosure, possibly a stock enclosure associated with a double ditched trackway. The settlement appears to be associated with the field system described in MDO2847. Whilst the NMR suggests a Romano-British date for this settlement, limited excavation of the outer bank of the rectilinear enclosure recovered Bronze Age flint flakes and a scraper. The site has been mutilated by ploughing and is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs taken in 1969. {2}

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1963, Monuments Threatened or Destroyed. A Select List: 1956-1962, 14 (Monograph). SDO12558.

‘COMPTON ABBAS. FRENCHMAN’S HILL BARN, S.W. of [SY 568938] Double-banked rectangular enclosure, 200 ft. by 40 ft., with internal features; associated trackways, oval enclosures and ‘Celtic’ fields. Previously unrecorded.’

<1> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 23-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1983, 143-144 (Serial). SDO83.

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Unpublished revision RCHME Dorset I (West) Undated (West Compton file) (Unpublished document). SDO19799.

<4> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 4149-50 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11079.

<5> 02-APR-1969, NMR OS/69053 046-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11080.

<6> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/088 RCHME Inventory: Dorset I (West) and Revision (Unpublished document). SDO17367.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA71/03941 (Index). SDO14738.

PROBABLE RB FARMSTEAD - SITE FEATURE 8

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA71/03942 (Index). SDO14738.

PROBABLE RB FARMSTEAD - SITE FEATURE 11

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450983 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 26 2024 3:02PM