Monument record MDO45212 - 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 1479042) 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 <1-2>. The site is centred at ST 9556 0788 and is defined by an oval macula which measures 11m long by up to 8m wide.

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 eg ST 90 NE 61 / UID: 1479028) 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 situated to the south-west of a line of three other probable dolines (see ST 90 NE 62 - 64 / UIDs: 1479033, 1479036, 1479039). <3>

A sub-circular feature is visible to the east of Tarrant Monkton as a cropmark on aerial photographs <1-2>. The feature may be a plough levelled Bronze Age round barrow. It is recorded in the NRHE (Hob UID 1479042) 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> John Boyden, 08-JUL-1976, JRB 3306/2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19150.

<2> John Boyden, 08-JUL-1976, JRB 3306/10 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19149.

<3> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1479042 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 30 2023 12:07PM