Monument record MDO5156 - Later prehistoric enclosure, Tarrant Rushton

A sub-oval enclosure delimiting an area of some six acres, and defined from aerial photographs. The enclosure is bivallate, with ditches some 80 ft or more apart on its south side, drawing closer together to the east and west sides. The north side is concealed by a hedge. No entrances have been identified. There are traces of a ditch approaching the enclosure on its south side. The enclosure and two associated boundary ditches are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour Catchment AI&M. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water.

Tarrant Rushton 16. Concentric enclosures. ?Ligature connects to smaller enclosure 120m to E. [Plans of comparable features]. <2-3>

The enclosure and two associated boundary ditches are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs <4> and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour Catchment AI&M. The enclosure is defined by two ditches, the outer 220m across, and the inner 175m. Two linear ditches, possibly boundary ditches or trackways run southward from the enclosure. The enclosure is considered to be later prehistoric and is associated with a field system described in MDO44146.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 113 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(16) Enclosure (939046), some 6 acres in extent and roughly oval in shape, lies 225 ft. above O.E., at the W. end of a spur overlooking the Tarrant. The site, seen only as a soil-mark on air photographs (C.U.A.P., AQV 92, 94), is defined by two ditches, 80 ft. apart or more on the S., but drawing closer together on the E. and W.; the N. side is concealed by a hedge. There are traces of a ditch which approached the enclosure on the S., but no entrance is visible.'

<1.1> St Joseph, J K, St Joseph AQY 92 94 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19430.

<2> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 93 (Monograph). SWX800.

<3> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 26 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<4> National Monuments Record, 25-JUN-2012, NMR 27494/41 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18300.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209664 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 15 2023 3:51PM