Monument record MDO43092 - Possible prehistoric field boundaries, Cerne Abbas Deer Park, Cerne Abbas

Linear banked features are visible as earthworks on 1940s aerial photographs within the extent of Cerne Abbas Deer Park (MDO736), Cerne Abbas. The features may be field boundaries of prehistoric origin - perhaps associated with the extensive Iron Age field systems MDO2595/2596 to the west or MDO723 to the east. A later, possibly medieval, date for some of the features is also possible. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project.

Linear banked features are visible as earthworks on 1940s aerial photographs within the extent of Cerne Abbas Deer Park (MDO736), Cerne Abbas (1, 2). The features comprise a series of broad irregular linear banks in the central area of the park that appear to form partial rectilinear enclosures on a north-south axis. On the west side fo the former deer park the linear banks are narrower and form no evident relationship.
The features may be field boundaries of prehistoric origin - perhaps associated with the extensive Iron Age field systems MDO2595/2596 to the west or MDO723 to the east. Given their location within a former medieval deer park a later, possibly medieval, date for some of the features is also possible. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project.

Some of the features are still visible on Google Earth imagery; particularly those within the cental area of the former deer park.

<1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2377-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17069.

<2> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2378-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17068.

Record last edited

Aug 15 2024 4:55PM