Monument record MDO47529 - Roman finds from Fordington Down, Bradford Peverell

SY 66639095. A number of lynchets of a Celtic field system (see SY 69 SE 38) were levelled in 1950 when about 12 acres of Fordington Down immediately south-west of Square Coppice were taken under cultivation revealing black pottery, a few sherds of Samian ware and some bones. Farrar found more pottery in 1951, near the fence which coincided with one of the field lynchets along the western side of Fordington Bottom. Most of the identifiable sherds were Iron Age C in character though not necessarily of pre-conquest date. Activity of imbrex tiles and the Samian found earlier. One or two small and worn sherds may have belonged to the Iron Age A or B tradition.

The concentration of finds in a restricted area and evidence on air photographs of a trackway and traces of an enclosure on its
southside (SY 66619101) seemed to suggest the proximity of a settlement associated with the cultivation lynchets. <1>

In 1949, Mr Ian Ellis found a coin of Constantius II in this settlement area. <2>

Part of the Celtic field system and settlement area are shown but not described on an oblique air photograph taken in 1937. <3>

Farrar refers to the site (SY 666910) as Romano-British settlement and suggests that it was perhaps distinct from the settlement on the west slope of Fordington Down discovered in 1956. <4>

SY 666910. Listed as Romano-British settlement by RCHM. <6>

The site was examined with a view to scheduling it, but, much reduced by ploughing, its character and extent are uncertain, and it is not rrecommended for scheduling. Ground photo with archive report. <7>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1951, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1950, 89-90 (Serial). SDO50.

<1.1> Pullen, J, Inf Mr J Pullen "Barros Down", Treves Road Dorchester (Verbal communication). SDO20247.

<1.2> Royal Air Force, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 2087-88 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20248.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1952, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1951, 86 (Serial). SDO51.

<3> Wheeler, R E M, 1943, Maiden Castle, Dorset, 14 36 Plate LXX of oblique air photo taken by Maj.Allen 1937 (Monograph). SDO17278.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1957, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1956, 80-1 (Serial). SDO56.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 66609090) Iron Age Farm (NR) (site of) (NAT)

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 494, 624 (Monograph). SDO150.

<7> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, KC, MPPA, 24-Dec-1999 (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA71/03944 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW OF RB SETTLEMENT DISCOVERED WHEN CELTIC FIELDS WERE LEVELLED FOR CULTIVATION

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA71/03945 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW OF RB SETTLEMENT DISCOVERED WHEN CELTIC FIELDS WERE LEVELLED FOR CULTIVATION

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA71/03946 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW OF RB SETTLEMENT DISCOVERED WHEN CELTIC FIELDS WERE LEVELLED FOR CULTIVATION

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA71/03952 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW OF RB SETTLEMENT DISCOVERED WHEN CELTIC FIELDS WERE LEVELLED FOR CULTIVATION

<12> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453351 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 9 2023 6:17AM