Monument record MDO3691 - Iron Age and Roman settlement on Chettle Down, Chettle

Remains of the Iron Age and Roman occupation have been largely flattened by cultivation, over an area of 5 acres on Chettle Down. Finds made at various times include a La Tène III bronze brooch, Durotrigian pottery, samian ware and New Forest and other coarse pottery.

The elliptical earthwork (at ST 94501487) associated with the settlement is listed by Allcroft as an amphitheatre or 'circus' of the Romano-British period, similar to others found on Cranborne Chase. Toms who excavated it in 1924, found a layer of chalk mud in the interior, below a layer of mould and chalk containing Romano-British pottery and burnt flints, and concluded that the feature had been a pond, similar to modern dew-ponds. <2> <3>

The earthwork described as a pond or 'circus' (see plan) consists of an oval area surrounded by a strong bank, with an entrance at the N where the bank is lower and curves slightly to allow access. A double lynchet track-way runs from the S end of the earthwork where there could have been another entrance, now blocked up. Outside the northern entrance is an area of settlement with many vague hollows and unsurveyable curvilinear banks. Two pieces of Roman brick, sherds of Samian ware, part of a mortarium and other sherds of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery were found. The proximity of the field system (ST 91 SW 18) suggests an agricultral settlement. <4>

IRON AGE AND ROMANO OCCUPATION DEBRIS, the remains of a settlement which now has been largely flattened by cultivation, occur over an area of 5 acres on Chettle Down. The site (94501490) occupies a S.-facing Chalk slope, about 330 ft. above sea-level, within an area of 'Celtic' fields. Finds made at various times, including material from trial trenches cut across an earthwork thought to be a pond, include a La Tene III bronze brooch, Durotrigian pottery, samian ware, and New Forest and other coarse pottery. <7>

Chettle 14. Enclosure [of uncertain form], area 2ha. A hollow-way from SW, integrated with 'Celtic' fields, ends just S of settlementin probable 'open' space. <8>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 94501487) Earthwork (NR)

<2> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1919, Archaeological Journal 76, 97, 98, 102 (Serial). SDO18345.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1930, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1929, 194-203 (Serial). SDO33.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 12-APR-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1961, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1960, 83-84 (Serial). SDO60.

‘Chettle, O.S. ref. ST 945149 (centre). The area of occupation lay immediately to the north of the pond [Footnote 1: For this feature see H. S. Toms in Proceedings, LI, 194-203], the present scatter of material indicating an area of approximately five acres, and being densest around the two mounds noted by Sumner. Sherds occurred of Brailsford’s type 5 and 6, with later forms represented by typical 3rd-4th century flanged bowls, and New Forest colour-coated ware. The most significant find, however, was that of a La Tène bronze brooch, which came from immediately adjacent the north bank of the pond at O.S. ref 94501490. This was in excellent condition, complete except for a portion of the catch-plate. This would seem to indicate that the farmstead was probably in existence about the time of the Conquest [Footnote 2: J. W. Brailsford, “The Durotrigian Culture”, Proceedings, 79 (1957), 119]. An iron nail came from near the mounds.’

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

(ST 945148) Settlement (NR)

<7> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 13 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(14) Iron Age and Roman Occupation Debris, the remains of a settlement which now has been largely flattened by cultivation, occur over an area of 5 acres on Chettle Down (Plate 35). The site (94501490) occupies a S.-facing Chalk slope, about 330 ft. above sea-level, within an area of 'Celtic' fields. Finds made at various times, including material from trial trenches cut across an earthwork thought to be a pond, include a La Tène III bronze brooch, Durotrigian pottery, samian ware, and New Forest and other coarse pottery (Dorset Procs., LI (1929), 194-203; 82 (1960), 83).'

<8> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 24 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<8.1> National Monuments Record, NMR ST 9414/3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18346.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 909348 RCHME: Dorset IV - Chettle (14) Down (Index). SDO14738.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210196 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2022 2:55PM