Monument record MDO22322 - Neolithic/Bronze Age pit near Mampitts Lane, Shaftesbury

Multi-phase prehistoric occupation revealed during grave-digging; in the form of a circular pit with a hearth at the bottom. The pit was just over two metres in diameter, and the fill of the pit contained worked flint points and pottery of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date. The function of the pit is not known, but it is presumed to represent occupation of some sort. This was the 2nd circular pit to be excavated, being in close proximity to the previous one (MDO4647) and produced similar dating evidence. Both are reported as producing Early Iron Age pottery from their upper fills.

ST 87252284. In December 1949 a pit, 9ft. in diameter and about 4ft deep, with a central hearth of ash and charcoal was found during grave-digging [Note: ie MDO4647]. The undisturbed half of the pit was subsequently excavated by Mr. N. Teulon Porter. The finds consisted of knapper's waste, mostly flint flakes, though flint is not local, and a few completed tools including scrapers and a small greensand rubber. Pottery sherds from the bottom of the pit were identified at the British-Museum as probably late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. There was a scatter of Early Iron Age sherds in the infilling of the pit. <1>

Later a second pit was completely excavated [Note: ie MDO22322], this was 3-4 ft. N.W. of the edge of the first site. It was similar, 8ft.,in diameter and 1ft.6ins deep. In the central hearth were found about 100 small lumps of a mixture of charcoal and ash bound together with some adhesive material - fat is tentatively suggested. The finds from these excavations are in the Shaftesbury Museum. <2>

Mr Teulon Porter pointed out the site on the plan but had no additional information.

The site falls in the centre of a graveyard and no visible trace remains of the pits. <3>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1950, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1949, 60-61 (Serial). SDO49.

<1.1> Historic England, Historic England Archive, N Teulon Porter Report to Shaftesbury & Dist Historial Society (Index). SDO14738.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1951, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1950, 94 (Serial). SDO50.

<3> Edwards, D W, Field Investigator's Comments DE, F1 DE 26-JAN-56 (Unpublished document). SDO18341.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206396 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 19 2025 12:10PM