Monument record MDO5807 - Linear earthworks on Thickthorn Down, Long Crichel

Multiple linear earthworks on the slope of Thickthorn Down. The earthworks run up the slope from the Crichel Brook north-eastwards towards the south-west end of the Dorset Cursus, and then parallel with the north-western side of the cursus. To the south-west of the cursus there are four banks separated by ditches, and they follow a slightly sinuous course. Although thought to be Roman when first recorded, these earthworks are now thought more likely to be of Late Bronze Age or Iron Age date.

LINEAR DYKES, probably all part of a single system, but of more than one phase, occur on former downland in the N. of the parish and extend W. into Tarrant Hinton. The most westerly and possibly earliest of the dykes has been flattened by ploughing, but air photographs show that it extended in a generally easterly direction from Tarrant Hinton Down (94881193), for more than 800 yds. along a spur, to meet a second dyke on Tarrant Launceston Down (95591177). The dyke formerly comprised a ditch between two low banks and measured some 50 ft. across, overall.

The second dyke, also ploughed flat, runs E.N.E. down the slope towards the Crichel Brook; it comes to an end after some 300 yds, (95851187) and neither ground inspection nor air photographs reveal any trace of it in the valley bottom. The dyke consisted of three banks, each about 15 ft. across and up to 3 ft. high, with intervening ditches of similar dimensions. After a gap of some 500 yds. The dyke continues on the far side of the valley, on the slop of Thickthorn Down, where it runs N.E. for 800 yds. Until it meets the S.W. end of the Dorset Cursus. In this part the dyke comprises four low banks of notably rounded profile; where best preserved each bank is about 16 ft. across and 2 ft. high, with slightly smaller intervening ditches. At the N.E. end the dyke swings a little to the N. before being cut by the modern road on the parish boundary. Across the road only the two N.W. banks reappear; for some 400 yds, they run parallel with and close to the N.W. side of the Cursus; over most of this distance they have been levelled by ploughing, but they are visible on air photographs. Excavation across this multiple dyke, on Thickthorn Down just inside the parish, yielded no evidence of structural features (such as post-holes for a palisade) and no firm evidence of date; the Roman period, however, seems likely. Such multiple banks and ditches are a distinctive form of boundary. They certainly are not defensive works and they may be compared with earthworks forming part of the settlement on Gussage Hill (ST 91 SE 3). In this case the Cursus earthwork, or part of it, appears to have been integrated with a boundary system. <2> <4>

A multiple linear earthwork, visible as earthworks and cropmarks, located on the slope of Thickthorn Down. Running up slope from the valley of the Crichel Brook, the visible extent of the monument begins at circa ST 96201210, heading northeast towards the southwest end of the Dorset Cursus (Linear 41), and subsequently running parallel with the northwestern side of the Cursus to circa ST 97251270. Southwest of the Cursus, the linear follows a slightly sinuous course and comprises 4 banks separated by intervening ditches (ie there were no outer ditches). RCHME measured the earthworks where best preserved, the banks being up to 16 feet across and 2 feet high, and the ditches slightly narrower than the banks. As it approaches the Cursus, the linear turns slightly to the north, the result being that it continues outside and parallel to the Cursus rather than abutting its terminal. The southernmost (outer) bank of the linear must have at least partially overlain the infilled Cursus ditch. The linear ditches also incorporate an earlier ring ditch (ST 91 SE 117) which had been constructed alongside the Cursus. The sole excavation was undertaken in 1958 and involved cutting a single section across the full width of the monument close to where it meets the Cursus. The only reported finds were three potsherds (two medieval and one Beaker, none in useful contexts). Both the excavator and RCHME argued for a Roman date. However, a Late Bronze Age or Iron Age date seems more likely. See ST 91 SE 205 for a possible southwestern continuation of this linear earthwork. Barrett et al (1991) suggest that, together with other linears in the area, including the Gussage Hill complex to the northeast (ST 91 SE 3), an area of land circa 700 hectares in extent and entirely free of field systems is defined. This may represent an area used for pasture/stock-rearing rather than arable agriculture. <9>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 95351192 to ST95841187) Dyke (NR) (twice) (ST 96421221 to ST 97241273) Dykes (NR) (twice)

<2> Crawford, O G S, 13-JUL-1928, O G S Crawford 11 5 270 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19532.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1960, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1959, 110-113 (Serial). SDO59.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East) (Monograph). SDO129.

<4.1> Royal Air Force, RAF/CPE/UK/1845 6056-60 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19533.

<4.2> F22 58/1090 0093-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19534.

<4.3> 58/3250 0081 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19535.

<5> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 49 (Monograph). SWX800.

<6> Barrett, J, Bradley, R and Green, M, 1991, Landscape, Monuments and Society: the prehistory of Cranborne Chase, 227-242 (Monograph). SDO16633.

<7> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/091 RCHME Inventory: Dorset V (East) (Unpublished document). SDO18032.

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 884204 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Thickthorn Down, Long Crichel, Dorset

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210071 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 22 2025 3:59PM