Monument record MDO3373 - Cowleaze, Square Enclosure

The partial remains of a square enclosure surrounding an internal circular mound is visible as an earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs. It is of uncertain date and function.

Three enclosed round barrows lie on a gentle east slope over Bagshot rubble. Each is inside an almost square enclosure with bank 1 ft high and sides approximately orientated. All much disturbed. Probably Iron Age or later, since `C` may be later than boundaries of `Celtic` field type surrounding it (SY 68 NW 36), and because in E Yorkshire smaller barrows tightly surrounded by similarly orientated square ditches (not banks) are of La Tene Iron Age (SE 94 SW 4). The closest parallel, at Leckhampton, Glos, was undated by excavation (SO 91 NW 6). In Winterborne St Martin square enclosures around larger barrows in open fields were probably of late date (SY 68 NW 57).

Described by the RCHM as a possible Late Iron Age barrow, 28ft. In diam and about 2ft. High, the enclosure is 63.5ft square, while the ditch is about 9ft. wide outside the bank. <2>

Ploughed-out no remains. Detail deleted from 1:2500 M.S.D. <3>

SY 612885. Three barrows with square-plan enclosures, perhaps belonging to the latest phases of the Iron Age. <4>

Air photographs would seem to suggest that the banked enclosures are most likely tree-clump enclosures, probably of the 18th century. <5>

Barrow B. Geophysical survey in 1982 failed to identify the site or nature of its structure. <6>

"Barrow" and enclosure B were excavated in 1982. A prehistoric date appears unlikely, with documentary and earthwork evidence suggesting a Post Medieval origin being most likely. Identifying a function is more problematic. While the possibility that they may represent the planting of saplings within fenced enclosures (in order to prevent damage by grazing stock), an association with the farming and management of rabbits is preferred. <8>

The partial remains of a square enclosure surrounding an internal circular mound. It is one of three similar enclosures located here (MDO3371-73). They are of uncertain date and function.



These features were excavated by P J Woodward in 1982, concluding that a prehistoric date was unlikely, with documentary and earthwork evidence suggesting a Post Medieval origin instead. One possibility is that they may represent the planting of saplings within fenced enclosures (in order to prevent damage by grazing stock). However, documentary maps and present field and wood names suggest that they are more likely to be earthworks associated with the management and farming of rabbits {2}.

This feature is also visible as an earthwork and as cropmarks on aerial photographs {3-5}, approximately 24m x 24m, surrounding an internal circular mound, approximately 10m in diameter, and was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(`A` - SY 61198856; `B` - SY 61268860) Tumuli [NR] (`C` - SY 61288850) Tumulus [NR]

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 472 (Monograph). SDO150.

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 14-MAR-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> Whimster, Rowan, 1981, Burial practices in Iron Age Britain: a discussion and gazetteer of the evidence c 700 BC-AD 43 (Monograph). SDO17451.

<5> Grinsell, L V, 1982, Dorset Barrows Supplement, 7 (Monograph). SWX1703.

<6> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1982, 174 (Serial). SDO82.

<7> Papworth, M, 1983, The South Dorset Ridgeway Project: condition and management survey, SDR 197 (Index). SDO12304.

No visible trace of this barrow even in the edge of Upper Loscombe Wood. Field planted in grass but regularly

<8> Woodward, Peter J, 1991, The South Dorset Ridgeway. Survey and Excavations 1977-84 (Monograph). SDO11947.

<9> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South Dorset Ridgeway Barrow Survey 2010 (Unpublished document). SDO12407.

<10> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3097-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11790.

<11> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4279-81 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11791.

<12> 21-4-1984, NMR OS/84038 359-60 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11807.

<13> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452301 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 14 2023 12:39PM