Monument record MDO5615 - Long barrow on Gussage Hill, Gussage St Michael

A long barrow situated inside the Dorset Cursus and at right angles to it, and within a later settlement. In 1975 this monument was recorded as an earthwork 155 feet long with a tapering mound 65 feet wide at its widest point and up to 10 feet high, and shallow side ditches.

A Neolithic long barrow located on the crest of Gussage Hill. The long barrow lies within the Dorset Cursus (Linear 41) and is aligned at right angles to the long axis of the cursus. However, it is slightly off-centre, being closer to the northwest side of the cursus than to the southeast. It also lies among the earthworks of later settlement (ST 91 SE 3 and associated records). RCHME measured the mound as being 155 feet long, 65 feet wide and up to 10 feet high. Orientated southeast-northwest, the mound is lower and narrower towards the northwestern end. Shallow side ditches circa 30 feet across were visible on either side of the mound. There is no record of any excavation being undertaken. The barrow falls within the southwest portion of the Dorset Cursus, this stretch being known as the Gussage Cursus and which pre-dates the construction of the northwestern extension to Martin Down. The long barrow appears to pre-date construction of this Gussage Cursus, and was deliberately incorporated within it. The length of cursus running southwest from the terminal on Bottlebush Down was aligned exactly on the barrow, but drifted off course as it approached Gussage Hill but began to drift off course as the barrow moved out of view, an adjustment being necessary on Gussage Down in order to enclose the barrow. Barrett et al (1991) have argued that the positioning of the Bottlebush Down terminal was chosen in order that the barrow, when viewed from the terminal, would appear on the horizon. Penny and Wood (1973) suggested that this would also allow the midwinter sun to be observed setting behind the barrow when seen from the Bottlebush terminal. This is the most plausible of Penny and Wood's various alignments, and is accepted by Barrett et al.

(ST 99301382) Long Barrow (NR). <4>

Gill, M, 2023, Geophysics Survey of Three Long Barrows and a Long Mortuary Enclosure near the Dorset Cursus (Unpublished document). SDO19805.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 79 (Monograph). SDO132.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey map 6 inches to 1 mile, 1963 (Map). SDO11924.

<3> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1973, The Archaeological Journal 130, Volume 130. P44-76. The Dorset Cursus Complex - a Neolithic Astronomical Observatory? (Serial). SDO18368.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), p25 (Monograph). SDO129.

‘Of the five certain long barrows in the parish, four ((11), (12), (14), (15)) lie close to the Cursus (9) and are clearly associated with it. Together with the round barrows they compose two barrow groups, respectively on Thickthorn Down and Gussage Hill. … (14) Long Barrow (99301383), on the crest of Gussage Hill, lies about 360 ft. above O.D. Now an island in arable, the barrow lies within the Cursus (9) and at right-angles to it, but off-centre, being nearer the N.W. than the S.E. side (Plate 48). It lies, too, among the earthworks of the later settlement (7). The mound, 155 ft. long, 65 ft. across and up to 10 ft. high, is lower and narrower towards the N.W. end. Shallow side-ditches 30 ft. across are visible on either side.'‘Of the five certain long barrows in the parish, four ((11), (12), (14), (15)) lie close to the Cursus (9) and are clearly associated with it. Together with the round barrows they compose two barrow groups, respectively on Thickthorn Down and Gussage Hill. … (14) Long Barrow (99301383), on the crest of Gussage Hill, lies about 360 ft. above O.D. Now an island in arable, the barrow lies within the Cursus (9) and at right-angles to it, but off-centre, being nearer the N.W. than the S.E. side (Plate 48). It lies, too, among the earthworks of the later settlement (7). The mound, 155 ft. long, 65 ft. across and up to 10 ft. high, is lower and narrower towards the N.W. end. Shallow side-ditches 30 ft. across are visible on either side.'

<5> Barrett, J, Bradley, R and Green, M, 1991, Landscape, Monuments and Society: the prehistory of Cranborne Chase (Monograph). SDO16633.

<6> Kinnes, I, 1992, Non-Megalithic Long Barrows and Allied Structures in the British Neolithic, Volume No.52. [Cranborne Chase: ST 15] (Monograph). SDO10065.

<7> McOmish, D and Tuck, C, 2002, The Dorset Cursus (Unpublished document). SDO16471.

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 884256 RCHME: Long Barrows, Gussage St Michael, Dorset (Index). SDO14738.

Annotations

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 884565 RCHME: Gussage Hill Long Barrow, Gussage St Michael, Dorset (Index). SDO14738.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, F54/37/4 VIEW FROM SOUTH. ASSOCIATED WITH A CURSUS NEARBY (Index). SDO14738.

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, RCH01/091 RCHME Inventory: Dorset V (East) (Index). SDO14738.

Annotated publication proofs for Dorset V, East Dorset, published in 1974. Also includes original surveys, drawings and field notes, and unpublished material. Original survey material has been catalogued.

<12> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210013 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2023 8:13AM