Monument record MDO48976 - Possible later prehistoric curvilinear enclosure, Charlton Higher Down, Charminster

A curvilinear banked enclosure on Charlton Higher Down, Charminster, is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs and as an earthwork on current Environment Agency lidar imagery. The feature could potentially be later prehistoric in origin, perhaps of Iron Age to Roman date. Additional linear banks and ditches might be associated with the enclosure, given their juxtaposition, but might alternatively be features 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 curvilinear banked enclosure on Charlton Higher Down, Charminster, is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs and as an earthwork on current Environment Agency lidar imagery [1, 2, 3]. The feature comprises a sub-circular arrangement of linear banks just over 100m in diameter and with breaks on the north, east and south sides. Additional linear banks and dtiches are positioned closely adjacent and several possible pits within and without the enclsoure are also visible as soilmarks [1, 2].

The enclosure could potentially be later prehistoric in origin, perhaps of Iron Age to Roman date. The additional linear banks and ditches might be associated with the enclosure, given their juxtaposition, but might alternatively be features associated with part of a later prehistoric field system (MDO791), within which all the features are located. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

<1> National Monuments Record, 21-APR-1976, NMR 926/451-452 (Aerial Photograph). SDO21031.

<2> Royal Air Force, 20-OCT-1971, RAF/39/3812 V 269 (Aerial Photograph). SDO21034.

<3> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 3:27PM