Monument record MDO46881 - Prehistoric or Roman settlement, Charminster

Cropmarks of enclosures, pits, and a field system possibly a prehistoric or Roman settlement have been recorded from aerial photographs. The features are visible as soilmarks on aerial photographs and were digitally recorded from these sources during the Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

SY 684 970 (FCE) A rapid examination of air photography suggests the presence of an irregular enclosure with apparent internal divisions and possible pits. The features are located within a prehistoric or Roman field system and may be a settlement of similar date. The features are visible as cropmarks northeast of Forston Higher Farm. <1>

The features are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs and were digitally recorded from these sources during the Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project. <3>. The cropmarks indicate an irregular curvilinear ditched enclosureup to 180m by up to 155m. The enclosure is double ditched on the southeast side, with a possible short funnelled entrance to the southeast. The enclosure contains several additional linear ditches, possibly internal partitions, as well as several probable pits. The enclosure is located within part of a later prehistoric field system (MDO790) and some of the ditches potentially correspond with linear banked field boundaries potentially forming part of this field system, or alternatively also part of the settlement at this location, visible on lidar imagery. <4>

<1> Miller, Andrew, RCHME/EH/HE Aerial Photographers comment AM, 15-FEB-1993 (Verbal communication). SDO17356.

<1.1> National Monuments Record, NMR 4436: 20 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20022.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 983949 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<3> National Monuments Record, 21-APR-1976, NMR 926/453-462 (Aerial Photograph). SDO21009.

<4> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Jan 16 2025 9:24AM