Monument record MDO5282 - Round barrow, Winterborne Kingston

One of at least 13 ring ditches, including a group of 6 which appear conjoined, are visible as cropmarks. A linear feature, probably later in date, passes close by them and appears to cut across other linears. A trapezoidal feature is also visible. The site of the barrow is visible as a cropmark ring ditch 22m across on aerial photographs taken in 2002. It was digitally recorded during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM and is one of a large linear barrow group.

OS air photographs show cropmarks of a linear group of ring ditches, centred at SY 86579682. The overall diameters vary between 20.0 and 33.0 metres. One ring ditch is isolated, but in a line of five three are contiguous, with a further two overlapped (see 1:2500 plan). No traces are visible on the ground. <1>

Air photographs taken 15 April 2002 show considerably more detail. At least 13 ring ditches are now visible, as well as linear and trapezoidal features. Details as follows, beginning with the group described above: A line of six seemingly conjoined or overlapping ring ditches, west to east as follows:

(7) SY 86619682, circa 22 metres in diameter, lies 40m ESE of (6) and lies on a straight line extended from the alignment of (5) and (6). It appears to have a smaller ring ditch (8) conjoined to its NW side, centred at SY 86609683, and measuring circa 12 metres in diameter, although the cropmarks are quite indistinct.

In addition, other arcs of ditch are occasionally visible, some of which may represent traces of further ring ditches. A linear feature, possibly a heavily worn track or a ditch, crosses the field containing the ring ditches and appears to follow an irregular broadly ESE-WNW course immediately to the north of ring ditches (1)-(7). Note that all confirmed ring ditches lie to the south of this feature, which clearly post-dates the ring ditches. Other linear features are also visible, including a ditched feature bisected by the above linear and which appears at one point to feature a substantial entrance/causeway. 80 metres north of ring ditch (3) is a trapezoidal feature, aligned roughly NNW-SSW, centred at circa SY 86519698, and measuring circa 46 metres long and up to 30 metres wide. Its broader end, which appears open, is to the north. It appears to be overlain by a smaller trapezoidal feature, but some internal features, possibly pits, appear to follow the alignment of the main enclosure. <4>

The site of the barrow is visible as a cropmark ring ditch 22m across on aerial photographs taken in 2002. It was digitally recorded during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM and is one of a large linear barrow group. <7>

<1> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F1 NJA 21-JAN-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<1.1> Ordnance Survey, 18-APR-1980, OS 80/021 167-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19645.

<2> Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1986, Dorset Barrow Survey, Papworth, M D J 6 March 1986 (Index). SDO134.

'Visible as a faint swelling 20.0m in diameter and 0.2m high. Reduced and spread by ploughing in a field that appears to be occaisonally ploughed and in established grass when visited. There are other vague swellings in this part of the field.'

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1989, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1988, 143 (Serial). SDO88.

'… visible as earthworks in arable when visited. AP no. OS 80 021 167 … SY 86619682, round barrow, 20.0m dia., 0.2m. high.'

<4> 15-APR-2002, NMR 21626/14 SY 8696/5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19693.

<5> GetMapping, 2005, Digital vertical aerial photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDO12563.

<6> National Monuments Record, 15-APR-2002, NMR 21626/12 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19890.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455823 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 8 2024 12:55PM