Monument record MDO45210 - Possible Bronze Age round barrow, Tarrant Rawston

A sub-circular feature is visible to the east of Tarrant Monkton as a cropmark on aerial photographs. The feature may be a plough levelled Bronze Age round barrow. It is recorded in the NRHE (Hob UID 1479036) as a possible barrow or alternatively a geological doline. The feature forms one of a row of four such features, with a further possible feature to the south of these. Interestingly, the parish boundary between Tarrant Monkton and Tarrant Rawston makes a short dogleg around the group of features, perhaps suggesting they were once more extant, and potentially raising the possibility for a Bronze Age barrow cemetery. The feature was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A geological doline or possible Bronze Age round barrow is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs. The site is centred at ST 9558 0789 and is defined by a circular macula which measures 12m in diameter.

The aerial photographs were taken in July 1976 during a period of severe drought and reversal of the cropmarks may have taken place. Although the shape and size of the macula could suggest it is the plough levelled remains of a Bronze Age round barrow mound (several of which are known in this area) the macula probably represents a circular natural solution hole formed by the chemical weathering of the rock at points of weakness and known as shake holes, sink holes or dolines.

The site is one of a line of four probable dolines along the ridge (see ST 90 NE 62, 64 and 65 / UIDs: 1479033, 1479039 and 1479042). <1-2>

A sub-circular feature is visible to the east of Tarrant Monkton as a cropmark on aerial photographs <2-3>. The feature may be a plough levelled Bronze Age round barrow. It is recorded in the NRHE (Hob UID 1479036) as a possible barrow or alternatively a geological doline. The feature forms one of a row of four such features, with a further possible feature to the south of these. Interestingly, the parish boundary between Tarrant Monkton and Tarrant Rawston makes a short dogleg around the group of features, perhaps suggesting they were once more extant, and potentially raising the possibility for a Bronze Age barrow cemetery. The feature was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

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 Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document).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

<2> John Boyden, 08-JUL-1976, JRB 3306/2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19150.

<3> John Boyden, 08-JUL-1976, JRB 3306/10 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19149.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1479036 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 30 2023 12:00PM