Monument record MDO44551 - Later prehistoric pits, Tarrant Launceston

A series of four, possibly five, small pits are visible as cropmarks to the northwest of Tarrant Launceston on a 1999 aerial photograph. The pits appear to form a short curving line that respects the north side of a Bronze Age barrow (MDO43803) and appears to cross over (or under) a late prehistoric cross dyke (MDO44552). The features are recorded under NRHE Hob UID 1481116 as potentially being later prehistoric or Roman in date. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

Four probable later Prehistoric or Roman pits are visible as soilmarks on aerial photographs. The pits each measure circa 4m in diameter and are between 17m and 47m apart. They form an arc around ST 9351 0964, which appears to reflect the curve of the Bronze Age round barrow to their south which is recorded as ST 90 NW 170 (UID: 1481062). The pits could therefore be ritual or simply extractive or for domestic rubbish. <1>

A series of four, possibly five, small pits are visible as cropmarks to the northwest of Tarrant Launceston on a 1999 aerial photograph <2>. The pits appear to form a short curving line that respects the north side of a Bronze Age barrow (MDO43803) and appears to cross over (or under) a late prehistoric cross dyke (MDO44552). The features are recorded under NRHE Hob UID 1481116 as potentially being later prehistoric or Roman in date. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<1.1> National Monuments Record, 13-OCT-1999, NMR ST 9309/21 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18462.

<1.2> National Monuments Record, 13-OCT-1999, NMR ST 9309/22 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18463.

<1.3> National Monuments Record, 13-OCT-1999, NMR 18458/07 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18038.

<1.4> National Monuments Record, 13-OCT-1999, NMR 18458/08 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18461.

<2> National Monuments Record, 13-OCT-1999, NMR 18458/07 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18038.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1481116 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 12 2023 6:12PM