SDO21630 - Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys Arial Investigation and Mapping Project

‘The Cerne and Piddle river valleys and their hinterlands form contrasting landscapes of upland chalk pasture, incised by dry chalk valleys, and fertile river valleys which have been well settled and farmed over millennia. The rich archaeology of this area of West Dorset has a long time-depth that reflects the human story of the place, whilst the contrasting topography, alongside modern farming and land management regimes, has variably impacted on the vulnerability and survival of the archaeological resource. This report presents the results of a systematic survey of a range of archaeological sites visible as earthworks, cropmarks and structures on aerial photographs and lidar imagery within a 115 square kilometre area of West Dorset incorporating the Upper Cerne and Piddle river valleys and their adjacent landscapes. A major part of the project area falls within the Dorset National Landscape, designated and protected for its Outstanding Natural Beauty. The project has positively enhanced existing baseline data through the mapping, interpretation and recording of 1,316 archaeological sites, of which 986 were previously unrecorded in county or national databases. The results will be available for use by local communities, researchers, policy makers and managers of the historic and natural environment.’