Monument record MDO7245 - Late prehistoric round barrow, Chaldon Down, Chaldon Herring

A circular mound is visible at this location as a cropmark on aerial photographs. It is considered likely to be the remains of a late prehistoric round barrow. It is one of six potential barrows located in this vicinity (MDO7245-49 & MDO7279).

Five bowl barrows south of Chaldon Farm buildings. 'A' - SY 78318142. A bowl barrow measuring 40ft. diameter by 6- 7ft. high circa 1959 (2 & 3) had been completely flattened by ploughing when excavated by D.A. White (5) in 1969. The truncated base of a central pit containing a large quantity of Bronze Age sherds and charcoal was found, but there was no trace of a cremation. A ring ditch, 9ft. wide by 3 1/2ft. deep had encircled the mound. Scheduled barrow No. 730a; Grinsell (Chaldon Herring No. 18).

The excavation of barrows 'A', 'D' and 'E' also revealed a large quantity of Mesolithic waste a flakes and some finished implements including microliths, cores and scrapers.

Late Neolithic and Bronze Age artifacts including petit tranchet derivative arrowheads and scrapers were also represented. Part of an enclosure ditch was traced as a cropmark and trial trenched in 1969. The U-shaped ditch had been 10ft. Wide by 4ft. Deep with a bank to the south and a possible entrance about 30ft. Wide. No dating evidence was recovered but the ditch was possibly associated with the adjacent 'Celtic field system (SY 78 SE 14) and may have served to stop cattle
straying southwards on to the cliffs. Plan 3. <1> <3-5>

'A. Ploughed out. <6>

A circular mound, approximatley 13.7m in diameter, is visible at this location as a cropmark on aerial photographs <7>. It is considered likely to be the remains of a late prehistoric round barrow. It is one of six potential barrows located in this vicinity (MDO7245-49 & MDO7279). This feature was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

White, D A, 1973, The Excavation of Three Round barrows on Chaldon Down, Dorset, 1969. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 95, 34-43 (Article in serial). SWX2379.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 98 (Monograph). SDO132.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(Centred SY 783813) Tumuli (NR) (Five shown)

<3> Department of the Environment, 1969, Department of the Environment Archaeological Excavations 1969, 7 (Serial). SWX2426.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 441 (Monograph). SDO150.

'Chaldon Down Group (SY 78 SE). Five bowls on flat summit of E.-W. coastal ridge. (31) (78318142). Diam. 40 ft., ht. 7 ft. Diam. reduced by ploughing round base.'

<5> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1974, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1973, 34-42 (Serial). SDO73.

<6> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 08-SEP-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<7> Royal Air Force, 18-FEB-1970, RAF 58/0254 0001-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12923.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454134 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 25 2024 3:55PM