Monument record MDO41879 - Bronze Age circular post hole structure, Coppice Street, Shaftesbury

A circular feature first recorded in 2003 during evaluation of the site of a proposed new Tesco store, and excavated before development. Interpreted as a timber circle or related ceremonial monument, or possibly a round house. This monument comprised a semi-circle of post holes measuring 6.5 metres across and facing south east. A little way in front of this was a roughly-square arrangement of two double and two single post holes. The structure burnt down before the timber posts decayed; the burning may have been a deliberate act, with finds such as a Collared Urn and flint tools being deposited after the fire. Radiocarbon dating gave a date of 1880 to 1640 BC. Archaeological observations and recording over the whole development site revealed little other evidence of Bronze Age activity, and this seems to have been an isolated feature.

<1> Alexander, M, 2003, An Archaeological Evaluation carried out at Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO11541.

<2> Carew, T, 2006, Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. An Archaeological Excavation Archive Report (Unpublished document). SDO10638.

<3> Carew, T, 2006, Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset DRAFT Publication (Unpublished document). SDO10639.

Record last edited

Oct 19 2018 3:31PM