Monument record MDO7249 - 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. 'E'-SY 78448126. A bowl barrow measuring 80ft. diameter by 1 1/2ft. high circa 1959 <1> had been almost flattened when excavated by White in 1969. A 'U' - shaped ring ditch, 7 1/2ft. Wide by 3 1/2ft. Deep with two gaps had encircled the mound. The primary filling of the ditch contained fragments of a Middle Bronze Age "Deverell-Rimbury" globular urn and a miniature vessel. No clearly defined burial pit was seen but a shallow central pit contained cremated bone fragments, charcoal and a few pottery sherds of Bronze Age type. Around the central pit appeared the remains of three stake holes from a square "mortuary" house centred on the pit. Just south of the pit was a modern depression, possibly associated with former telecommunication aerials. Scheduled barrow No 730d and Grinsell (Chaldon Herring No 16) plan 2.

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. <3-5>

'E. Ploughed out. <6>

A circular mound, approximately 16m 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).

DO730d

<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 (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.

<5> White, D A, 1973, The Excavation of Three Round barrows on Chaldon Down, Dorset, 1969 (Article in serial). SWX2379.

<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

Feb 23 2024 3:56PM