Monument record MDO44555 - Possible late prehistoric/Roman field system, Tarrant Launceston

Linear ditched features associated with a possible late prehistoric or Roman field system are visible as cropmarks to the northeast of Blandford Camp, Tarrant Launceston, on aerial photographs. The features include some recorded under NRHE Hob UID 1481101. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A probable part of a later Prehistoric and / or Roman field system, of the form often referred to as a "Celtic" field system, is visible as soilmarks on aerial photographs. The site is centred at ST 9299 0958 and comprises three broad linear ditches that are morphologically very similar to other later Prehistoric / Roman field boundaries identified in the area and forming wider "Celtic" field systems (eg ST 90 NW 159 / UID: 1481007). The ditches extend roughly east / west for between 84m and 138m; the two westernmost are 10m apart and are located circa 70m to the south-east of the third ditch. The ditches suggest a group of long rectangular fields extending along the contours. <1>

Linear ditched features associated with a possible late prehistoric or Roman field system are visible as cropmarks to the northeast of Blandford Camp, Tarrant Launceston, on aerial photographs <2-3>. The features comprise a series of east-west aligned curvilinear and linear ditches and possible partial rectilinear enclosures, centred on an assymetric enclosure recorded separately under MDO5041. An area of Romano-British settlement is located a short distance to the west, with further features of possible late prehistoric to Roman date to the east. The features include some recorded under NRHE Hob UID 1481101. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<1.1> 19-OCT-1972, Dorset HER JAS/143 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19270.

<2> Professor P J Jones, 01-APR-1966, PJF 11361/ORACLE15 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18696.

<3> John Boyden, 08-JUL-1976, JRB 3306/6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18697.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1481101 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2023 6:54AM