Monument record MDO48973 - Possible later prehistoric rectilinear enclosure, Charlton Higher Down, Charminster

A rectilinear banked and ditched enclosure on Charlton Higher Down, Charminster, is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs. The feature could potentially be later prehistoric in origin, perhaps of Iron Age to Roman date. The enclosure might have a small annexe on its east side, or alternatively directly abuts linear banks associated with part of a later prehistoric field system (MDO791). The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

A rectilinear banked and ditched enclosure on Charlton Higher Down, Charminster, is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs [1]. The feature comprises a 30m by 30m banked rectilinear enclosure with a slightly funnelled entrance at its southeast corner. Apartial exterior ditch is visible on the south, west and north sides. A hollow centre to the feature is visible and is also identifiable on current lidar imagery. The hollow might be a contemporary feature or possibly the result of post-medieval chalk extraction [2]. A further small elliptical hollow seemingly respected by a bnaked linear feature is visible adjacent to the southeast corner of the enclosure - possibly a small annexe or aleternatively part of a linear bank, part of a later prehistoric field system (MDO791), also potentially dsisturbed by a psot-medieval chalk pit.

The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

<1> Crawford, O G S, 26-NOV-1925, CCC 11752/4994 (Aerial Photograph). SDO21033.

<2> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 12:26PM