Monument record MDO6220 - Enclosure, West Moors

A sub-rectangular enclosure was investigated during pipeline construction. Three separate but intercutting ditches were noted. Pottery from the site was mainly of local origin, and spanned the late first- to late 2nd century AD.

A late C1st-late C2nd Romano-British enclosure and field system was excavated just North of Udders Water and South of Washslope Farm. The partial plan recovered was excavated just North of Udders Water and South of Washslope Farm. The partial plan recovered was of a sub-rectangular enclosure ditch 27 m across. Other ditches recorded in the area are thought to relate to an associated field system. <1>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1989, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1988, 99-115 (Serial). SDO88.

The mechanical removal of topsoil at West Moors, Dorset, in advance of pipeline construction exposed three separate but inter-cutting ditches. The partial plan recovered was of a sub-rectangular enclosure ditch 27m across covering a total of 324 m square, within which lay the eroded traces of internal activity. Other ditches recorded in the area were thought to be part of an associated field system. Geophysical prospection however, failed to locate any features in the plots immediately adjacent to the contractors fenceline.

The excavation ditch produced many substantially complete pottery vessels whose form and fabric could be related to the proposed sequence of activities on the site. This pottery was mainly of local origin and suggested that the excavated features ranged in date from the late 1st century AD through to the late 2nd century AD.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 888821 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 29 2023 8:34PM