SDO12407 - South Dorset Ridgeway Barrow Survey 2010

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Dorset County Council to undertake an archaeological condition survey of the barrows along the South Dorset Ridgeway and within its immediate environs. Previous research into the status and condition of these monuments has been collated and compared with the results of the survey undertaken for this assessment to present an impression of the general trends in terms of land use and stability of the barrows. A total of 692 sites were recorded during this project, of these 416 are Scheduled Monuments. 676 barrows were recorded on the Dorset SMR and a further 16 sites have been identified as probable barrows shown in aerial photographs or visible as ploughed out circles in fields during the fieldwork. Of the 676 previously identified barrows within the Survey Area 197 (29.1%) are included in the latest edition of the Heritage at Risk Register (English Heritage 2009). When the first systematic survey of the condition of South Dorset Ridgeway barrows was undertaken in 1980 the survival of the barrows were taken as a good indicator of the degree to which contemporary archaeological and historical landscapes had been eroded during the previous 30 years (Woodward 1980, 97). The results of the survey made alarming conclusions that estimated by the end of the 20th century only 40% of the known barrow sites would be visible, and not many of these would be unscathed by the intensification of arable farming since the Second World War (ibid). This survey has shown that the rate of erosion has not resulted in the predicted large-scale loss of the barrows and many are deemed to be stable or improving in the overall condition trend. This may be attributed to changes in farming practice towards the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century with the emphasis moving from production to conservation within the rural landscape. The number of barrows under constant arable cultivation has reduced drastically since 1980 with many more barrows recorded in pasture or long-term pasture ley. However, the survey has shown that although some barrows have been removed from the plough this does not preclude them from impacts of grazing, burrowing animals or scrub encroachment. The survey found that 6.5% of the 675 barrows recorded in the HER were in Good condition with a further 32.3% considered to be in Fair condition. However, 19.4% were found to be in Poor condition and 40.7% were in Very Bad condition. The condition of two barrows (0.3%) could not be determined because of current ground conditions and five barrows (0.7%) were recorded as being Destroyed through quarrying or excavation. Comparison between the 1983 and 2010 surveys can provide an overview to establishing broad survival trends. 60 (8.9%) of all barrows were found to be Improving but 150 (22.2%) are considered to be Declining. The majority of barrows (372- 55.1%) are considered to be Stable. However, 144 of the Stable barrows (39%) are categorised as being in Very Bad condition with no visible trace of earthworks remaining and are therefore classified as Stable as they cannot get any worse.