Monument record MDO792 - Bowl Barrow enclosed in rectangular ditch, Charminster

SY 68479466. An earth and chalk mound which has been cut through by the road so that only the west half exists. This portion has a north-south diameter of 22.0 metres and an east-west diameter of 16.0 metres; the maximum height is 0.6 metres. Although there are no indications on the ground, a surrounding ditch is suggested on air photograph CPE/UK/2431/4127.
A possible bowl barrow, now under the plough. <1>

(SY 68479407) Mound located and surveyed. <2>

The probable barrow at SY 68479466, approximates to the description and measurements of authority 1, though the road rises over the continuation of the mound eastwards.

From air photographs <4> it is apparently enclosed within a rectangular ditch with rounded corners, measuring about 50 metres north to south, and 20 metres east to west; the east side obscured by the road. The mound is in the northern part; possibly the ditch originally enclosed two barrows. There are no indications of the ditch or of a second barrow on the ground, a pasture field. Revised at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <3>

The site of a plough-levelled Bronze Age bowl barrow, visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs. The barrow is partially destroyed by the modern road. The NMR indicates that it is enclosed within a rectangular ditch visible on aerial photographs, however this feature is only visible on photographs taken in 1948 and has therefore been dismissed as a modern tractor mark. <4-5>

'A faint rise reduced and spread by ploughing in established lay pasture when visited. The eastern half of the mound has been destroyed by a road. The field boundary hedge and road rise over a swelling probably a remnant of the mound to E. 7/6/E.
Papworth MDJ/TWA/25.10.85

<1> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 NVQ 02-DEC-54 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Large Scale/Small Scale Map Reviser's comments, LS Rev (G F Sibley 9.4.58) (Verbal communication). SDO19451.

<3> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F2 NJA 23-MAR-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<4> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 4130-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO10909.

<5> 29-OCT-1997, NMR SY6894/16 (15834/27) (Aerial Photograph). SDO10907.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453341 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 2 2023 3:26PM