Monument record MDO5607 - Iron Age enclosure east of Gussage Down, Gussage St Michael

An ovoid enclosure, suggested to be of possible Iron Age date, now levelled by ploughing but visible as a cropmark on air photographs. Around 3.3 hectares in extent, with its long axis running broadly southwest-northeast, the east side of the enclosure lies within the Drive Plantation and is consequently not visible. The enclosure is cut by the Ackling Dyke Roman road, which also marks the northwest side of the Plantation. An entrance gap is visible on the northern side of the enclosure circuit, immediately adjacent to two enclosed round barrows. However, one of the barrows intersects with the internal bank of the enclosure. It is assumed that the barrows are earlier, and have therefore been deliberately included within the enclosure, and may presumably have influenced the location of its entrance.

An enclosure, possibly Iron Age, is situated east of Gussage Down at SU 006142. It has been levelled by ploughing but remains visible on air photographs. It comprises an oval, about 780 feet by 560 feet and 8 acres in area, defined by a ditch with traces of an internal bank. The east side of the enclosure lies in The Drive Plantation, but it is not visible there, being cut by the Roman road, Ackling Dyke, which coincides with the side of the plantation. On the north, and immediately west of the Roman road, the enclosure just encompasses the two round barrows (SU 01 SW 7 & SU 01 SW 127) There are suggestions of an entrance immediately north of the barrow at SU 00631430.

Ovoid enclosure, area 3.3ha. Entrance at NE adjacent to pair of ditched barrows, one of which intersects internal banks of this enclosure. [Plans of comparable sites]. <3-4>

<1> Boyden, J R, 17-Sep-62, Flight 62 17.9.62 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18685.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 24, Gussage St Michael 8 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(8) ENCLOSURE (006142), possibly Iron Age, E. of Gussage Down, has for long been levelled by ploughing, but it remains visible on air photographs (58/RAF/3250: 0085; N.M.R., SU 0014/4, 5; C.U.A.P., ANC 32, 34). Lying about 240 ft. above O.D. on ground descending gently N.E. to a broad, shallow dry valley, it comprises an oval, about 780 ft. by 560 ft. and 8 acres in area, defined by a ditch with traces of an internal bank (Plate 54). The E. side of the enclosure lies in The Drive Plantation, but it is not visible there, being cut by the Roman road, Ackling Dyke, which coincides with the side of the plantation. On the N., and immediately W. of the Roman road, the enclosure just encompasses round barrows (34) and (35). There are suggestions of an entrance immediately N. of (35). '

<3> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 49, 92, Gussage St Michael 8 (Monograph). SWX800.

<4> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 28, Gussage St Michael 8 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, Object Number: 884578, RCHME: Gussage Hill Settlement, Gussage St Michael, Dorset (Index). SDO14738.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213854 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2023 7:43AM