Monument record MDO7584 - Iron Age enclosures, Furzey Island, Corfe Castle

An archaeological survey of Furzey Island in 1985 located several banks and enclosures over the whole island. Partial excavation of enclosures `C' and `D' recovered exclusively pre-Roman conquest type pottery, evidence of shale working and residue from iron smithing.

(Enclosure `C' is at SZ 00938702, enclosure `D' in at SZ 00938699). Sherds of Romano-British BBI were recovered from the ditch of the enclosure `G' (SZ 013870) and two possible amphora sherds come from the ditch of enclosure `H' (SZ 01303698).

Archaeological survey and excavation demonstrated the presence of an extensive system of enclosures across Furzey Island. Some elements of this system survived as earthworks and others as subsoil features, truncated by landscaping in the 1930s. Finds included late Iron Age pottery, possible 2nd to 3rd century Romano-British BB1, two possible sherds of amphora, evidence for hand worked and lathe turned shale industries (fragments of Kimmeridge shale waste and armlets) and a small quantity of iron waste, possibly residue from smithing (1)

Major double bank and ditch system (surviving partially as an earthwork) of late Iron Age date (c.50BC - 50AD) identified prior to well construction (SZ01308700). Preliminary excavation established that the enclosure ditch survived to a maximum depth of 1950mm below the present ground surface and also identified the location of an entranceway into the enclosure. The projected location of the wellsite coincided with this entranceway. Archaeological deposits observed in this vicinity were thought to be associated with the entranceway. Trial pitting programme further demonstrated that archaeological features survived both in the vicinity of the known earthwork and in the SE corner of the projected well site. The earthwork survey demonstrated that the earthwork itself survived to the greatest extent at its NE corner, where the outer banks and the line of the ditch were all visible at ground level. Elsewhere, the line of the ditch remained generally visible though there was little or no trace of the bank.

Excavations were carried out on the Island during 1987 as part of the BP Wytch Farm Oilfield development. Bronze Age depositions, possibly indicative of a settlement was identified within the east of the island and three phases of Iron Age occupation were identified. A series of enclosures, one excavated in 1985, were constructed during the second century BC. These were re-established during the first century BC, with evidence of shale working, iron working, salt production and trade links with Armorica. By the late first century BC the settlement was in decline, trade links were still in place, but as the site became less accessible it was abandoned and replaced with a settlement on Cleavel Point. (2)

<1> Cox, P W, 1985, Excavation and Survey on Furzey Island, Poole Harbour - An interim note. , p157-158 (Article in serial). SWX7356.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1986, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1985, 157-158 (Serial). SDO85.

<2> Cox, P W, and Hearne, C M, 1988, Wytch Farm Oilfield Development, Wellsite L - Furzey Island, Archaeological Assessment, January 1988. (Unpublished document). SWX8181.

<3> Cotton J, 1993, Dorset Archaeology in 1993: Furzey Island, p161 (Article in serial). SWX8714.

<4> Cox, Peter W (et al), 1988, Excavation and survey on Furzey Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset, 1985, p49-72 (Article in serial). SWX786.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457500 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 13 2024 8:08AM