Monument record MDO4199 - Prehistoric field system, Keyneston Down

Extensive traces of prehistoric fields, now discontinuous and largely flattened by ploughing to the west, south and east of Buzbury Rings. These fields appear to be laid out along the lines of a series of pre-existing linear dykes. A number of geophysical anomalies were identified within this field system in 2012 and subsequent excavation revealed these to represent small field boundary ditches. Features associated with these field systems are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs and Envirtonment Agency lidar imagery and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM Project.

'Celtic' fields, now largely flattened by ploughing and discontinuous, are centred at ST 915055 and are 1ssociated with Buzbury Rings (ST 90 NW 13) and a number of dykes. Traces of a number of fields, up to 60 yds wide and of uncertain length, are detectable in Langton Long Blandford just W of Buzbury Rings, around ST 915060. Clearly they are laid off the linear dyke (ST 90 NW 32), between which and the dyke (ST 90 NW 100) are at least four large rectagular fields, measuring up to 85 yds by 130 yds. To the S of Buzbury Rings heavy ploughing has totally flattened the fields, but traces are visible as far S as ST 916047. Air photographs suggest that fields have been relaid near the linear earthwork (ST 90 NW 28), as some appear to be related to it and others to be cut by it. <1> <2>

Part of this field system was subject to geophysical survey along the route of the proposed Corfe Mullen to Salisbury Water Transfer Scheme in 2012. A number of positive linear anomalies were identified which represent field boundary ditches of this field system. <3>

Evaluation excavation investigated a number of the geophysical anomalies and these proved to represent small boundary ditches. No dating evidence was recovered. <4>

A continuation of Iron Age or Roman field systems as recorded in NRHE UID 209363. Soilmarks seen in 2007 aerial photography show a pattern of rectangular fields. <5>

Features associated with these field systems are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery [6 - 15]. These sources indicate that the field systems extend beyond the current HER polygons, particularly to the east and southwest of Buzbury Rings. A possible rectilinear enclosure recorded under NRHE Hob UID 981396 is thought to form part of the wider integrated field system. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM Project.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 118-9 (Monograph). SDO99.

'GROUP (70): KEYNESTON DOWN, RAWSTON DOWN AND LUTON DOWN (Langton Long Blandford, Tarrant Keyneston, Tarrant Monkton, Tarrant Rawston). 'Celtic' fields (916047-914074-936075-935060), now largely flattened by ploughing, and discontinuous, cover some 500 acres on the top and sides of the interfluve between the Stour and the Tarrant, around the Iron Age and Romano-British settlement of Buzbury Rings (Tarrant Keyneston (16)). They incorporate at leas t one other settlement, Tarrant Rawston (4), and are associated with a number of dykes, Tarrant Keyneston (18-21). See map in end pocket.
Traces of a number of fields, up to 60 yds wide and of uncertain length, are detectable in Langton Long Blandford just W of Buzbury Rings, around 915060. Clearly the yare laid off the linear dyke (Tarrant Keneston (18)), between which and dyke (19) are at least four large rectangular fields, measuring up to 85 yds by 130 yds.
To the S of Buzbury Rings heavy ploughing has totally flattened the fields, but traces are visible as far S as 916047. Air photographs suggest that fields have been relaid near the linear earthwork, Tarrant Keyneston (20) ; some appear to be related to it, other to be cut by it. A ploughed out hollow-way or dyke, apparently integrated with 'Celtic' fields, runs NE from 920050 to a roughly circular enclosure about 130 ft across at 921550565.
'Celtic' field lynchets, but few complete fields, extend E from Buzbury Rings towards Tarrant Rushton, along the steep slope N of Keyneston Down, as far as 933060. Air photographs show traces of former 'Celtic' fields on Rawston Down, especially around 924067. Farther N, in Tarrant Monkton, traces are visible on Luton Down, Around 915071, and also over an extensive area around, but mostly N of Luton Drove, between 921074 and 936076. Within this area, soil-marks indicate the existence of a probable settlement at 913076, comprising at least one small enclosure approached by a long, narrow funnel and associated with further ditches.
Air photographs : CPE/UK 1934: 1129, 3155-8, 5156-7; CPE/UK 1893: 3068; 58/3250 : 0064-6, 0077-8 ; HSL/UK/62/263 : 2593, 2596 ; NMR ST 9307/1-6.'

<2> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 3319-21 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17496.

<3> Marsh, B and Biggs, M, 2012, Geophysical Survey Report Corfe Mullen to Salisbury WTS, 27 (Unpublished document). SDO14089.

<4> Havard, T and Nicholl, M, 2013, Corfe Mullen to Salisbury Transfer Scheme, Wessex Water, Dorset and Wiltshire: Archaeological Evaluation, 14-15 (Unpublished document). SDO14094.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1518234 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209363 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5.1> 06-JUN-2007, NMR ST 9004/05 NMR 24631/17 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19419.

<6> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

<7> Royal Air Force, 01-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 3319 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18502.

<8> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN_1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 RP 3156 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18581.

<9> National Monuments Record, 21-FEB-2000, NMR 18718/11 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18582.

<10> National Monuments Record, 21-FEB-2000, NMR 18718/12 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18583.

<11> National Monuments Record, 07-APR-1989, NMR 4350/11 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18584.

<12> National Monuments Record, 08-APR-1976, NMR 915/27-32 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18500.

<13> Ordnance Survey, 13-SEPT-1982, OS 82203 V 213 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18585.

<14> Ordnance Survey, 24-APR-1988, OS 88055 V 238 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18586.

<15> Royal Air Force, 01-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RS 4318 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18474.

Record last edited

Feb 14 2023 4:43PM