Monument record MDO8019 - Prehistoric field system, Ballard Down, Swanage

The earthwork remains of a prehistoric field system, possibly Iron Age or Roman in date are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s on Ballard Down.

The earthwork remains of a prehistoric field system, possibly Iron Age or Roman in date are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s on Ballard Down. A system of banked field boundaries forming small, sub-rectangular fields are visible over an area measuring approximately 530 m by 105 m. (1) The site is partially visible as an earthwork on the most recent comprehensive aerial imagery available to the project. (2) A second area of field boundaries, possibly associated with the site is located to the north east (see linked record). This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 632 (Monograph). SDO150.

Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 118 (Index). SDO147.

Papworth, M, 1992, Whitecliff Farm, Purbeck, Dorset, Wessex Region, 10 (Unpublished document). SWX1387.

‘Celtic’ fields typical of Iron Age and Romano British forms of agriculture are visible on aerial photograph RAF CPE/UK/1821:2396 as three or four low scarps on each side of a natural gully. On the ground they are traceable but are not obviously ‘Celtic’ field remains. They lie south of the chalk ridge near the top of a steep slope.

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-MAY-1946, RAF 3G/TUD/UK/206 PART I 5003-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12792.

<2> Google Earth, 2008, Google Earth 2008 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12665.

Record last edited

Sep 26 2018 11:31AM