Monument record MDO6892 - Iron Age enclosed settlement, 29 Knights Road, Bearwood, Poole

Limited excavation in 1972 revealed part of a V-shaped ditch, several small pits and a number of postholes associated with pottery dating to the period 150-50 BC. This was interpreted as an enclosed settlement of Iron Age date.

SZ 05099644. An Iron Age habitation site and ditch at Bearwood, Poole, found in 1972, excavated by Poole Museum. <1>

Limited salvage excavations in 1972 to the south of 29 Knight's Road, Bearwood, Poole revealed part of a possible Middle-Late Iron Age enclosed settlement. This comprised a V-shaped ditch about 2.8 m wide and 2.0 m deep which produced a large quantity of pottery and a hoard of iron currency bars, with a shallow gully or palisade trench running just inside. A series of five shallow pits, several of which contained burnt debris, were also exposed, together with a patch of daub and a number of postholes. These features were associated with pottery dating to the period 150BC- 50BC.

The shape of the possible enclosure and the extent and nature of the settlement was not determined, but it is likely to be part of a Middle-Late Iron Age hill-slope enclosed settlement.

The excavation in 1972 suggested that the enclosure was a hill slope settlement sited on the edge of the Stow Valley and heathland ca 150-50 BC. A hoard of 4 currency bars was recovered from the main ditch. Full report. (2)

<1> Agar, R, Letter, R Agar, Bournemouth Deputy Borough Engineer, 14 November 1972 (Unpublished document). SWX3475.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1985, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1984, 138-142 (Serial). SDO84.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457865 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 4 2023 12:48PM