Monument record MDO5805 - Prehistoric dyke on Crichel Down, Long Crichel

A later Prehistoric linear field boundary which is listed by RCHME as part of Long Crichel 6 and was originally recorded as part of ST 91 SE 8. It had been almost completely levelled by ploughing when visited by RCHME. The linear comprises a ditch flanked with a bank on its south-eastern side. It extends for about 400 yards in a south-westerly direction along the top of the ridge from the northwest side of the rectangular enclosure recorded as ST 91 SE 8. The dimensions of the bank and ditch are similar to those of the enclosure. Bowen, in the Bokerley Dyke volume, suggests that there is an apparent gap between the linear and the enclosure, although this is not evident on the cropmark plot published in the volume. Transcription of the earthworks and cropmarks as part of the Tarrant Launceston 15 contextual area suggests that a ditch separates the linear and the rectangular enclosure, although the actual chronological relationship is not clear on the aerial photographs. The linear appears to form a field boundary as the western end of several of the "Celtic" fields and probably forms part of that field system. <1-3>

The later Prehistoric field boundary is visible as soilmarks on aerial photographs. It comprises a slightly sinuous linear bank measuring 5m wide which in places is flanked to either side by a narrow ditch. It extends between ST 9577 0997 and ST 9586 1008, where it meets the square enclosure recorded as ST 91 SE 8 (UID: 210012). The actual chronological relationship is not clear on the aerial photographs. The linear appears to form a field boundary as the western end of several of the "Celtic" fields and probably forms part of that field system (see ST 90 NE 11 / UID: 209273).<4>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 38-39 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(6) Enclosure and Linear Dyke, on Crichel Down, now almost completely levelled by ploughing, are probably of prehistoric date (Plate 85). The enclosure (95901007), on a broad saddle of the Down, 340 ft. above O.D., covers about 1/3 acre and is roughly rectangular in plan with sides between 105 ft. and 140 ft. in length; it is defined by a low bank 12 ft. across, with an external ditch of similar width. There is no trace of an entrance and the interior is flat and featureless, except for a small depression near the N.E. side.

The linear dyke (95861006-95690973) prolongs the N.W. side of the enclosure south-westwards across the ridge-top for at least 400 yds. (air photographs F21 58 RAF 1090: 0136-7). The dyke has dimensions similar to those of the bank and ditch of the enclosure, with the bank on the S.E. side. It is possibly, but by no means certainly, associated with ‘Celtic’ fields (Group (80)).’

<2> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 91 (Monograph). SWX800.

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<3> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory (Monograph). SDO14864.

<4> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<4.1> 12-MAR-1966, CUCAP ANC72 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19336.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1306571 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 1 2023 7:49PM