Monument record MDO42508 - Enclosure south of Cuckoo Clump, Monkton Down, Tarrant Monkton

Part of an undated single-ditched sub-oval enclosure visible on aerial photographs dated 2018 and 2019. At this time only the southern part of the monument could be seen, south of a modern field boundary. The feature is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project. The character of the feature is typical of a Banjo enclosure of probable Iron Age date.

Part of an undated single-ditched sub-oval enclosure visible on aerial photographs dated 2018 and 2019 <3-4>. The northern part of the enclosure, north of a modern field boundary, cannot be discerned, but to the south the enclosure measures approximately 90 metres WSW-ENE and in excess of 55 metres NNW-SSE. No clear entrance can be seen and no internal features were noted.

The feature is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs and partially as earthworks on Environment Agency lidar imagery <5-6>. The sub oval enclosure measures just over 93m wide by 74m deep, with an entrance to the southwest, comprising a long double ditched funnelled entrance approximately 130m long, with return ditches at the end to the northeast and southwest. The character of the feature is typical of a Banjo enclosure of probable Iron Age date.

The enclosure is situated within a wider area of ditched linear field boundaries and enclosures (MDO44560) that may be an associated field system. An area of possible settlement in the field adjacent to the east (MDO44561) is also visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs and may be part of an asociated area of activity, although the age and relationship, if any, between these sites is uncertain, based on the cropmark evidence alone.

The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 93, 95 (Monograph). SWX800.

<1.1> NMR OAP ST 9307/1-6, 11, 13 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19247.

<1.2> NMR OAP ST 9308/5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19248.

<1.3> NMR OAP ST 9407/3-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19249.

<2> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 26 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<3> Google Earth, 2018, Google Earth 2018 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16663.

<4> Google Earth, 2019, Google Earth 2019 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16664.

<5> John Boyden, 01-FEB-1969, JRB 9701/20 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18709.

<6> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 868702 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2023 10:02AM