Monument record MWX3565 - Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Iron Age/Roman field system

Field C: 18 linear features (1)
Fields E and P: land divided into small rectangular fields by ditches (2)
Field F: shallow ditch-type features interpreted as remnants of field boundaries. All followed a general east-west or north-south alignment and pottery was of a late Iron Age or Roman date (3) In 1998 four ditches were plotted in Field F conforming to the general pattern as those noted previously. Numerous ditches and gullies were also noted in Field G (4)
Field H: five Iron Age and eight Roman linears were excavated but only two conformed to the field system alignment. In Field R linear features followed the system alignment, one containing a small sherd of Cologne pottery (5)
Field J: four Iron Age ditches were identified and 21 Roman ditches that generally followed the east-west, north-south alignment. One Roman ditch contained the pierced base from a pedestal bowl and a fragment of Roman dolphin fibula brooch (6)
Field T: three Late Iron Age ditches excavated and five Roman ditches, and possibly more undated ditches, associated with field system. In Field N a further 13 ditches were excavated, 7 clustered on the eastern side of the field. Field Z: two merging ditches dated to the Late Middle Iron Age. Large amounts of pottery were retrieved, notable for the quality and large size of the vessels present, typical of the Maiden Castle-Marnhull style and not found before on the site. A small amount of later Iron Age pottery has also been noted (7)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 2000, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1999, 153 (Serial). SDO11604.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 2001, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 2000, 160 (Serial). SDO11605.

<1> Ladle, L, 1995, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 4 - 1995 (Unpublished document). SWX8524.

<2> Ladle, L, 1996, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 5 - 1996 (Unpublished document). SWX8525.

<3> Ladle L, 1997, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 6 - 1997 (Unpublished document). SWX8526.

<4> Ladle L, 1998, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 7 - 1998 (Unpublished document). SWX8528.

<5> Ladle, L, 2000, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 8 - 1999 (Unpublished document). SWX8530.

<6> Ladle, L, 2001, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 10 - 2001 (Unpublished document). SWX8531.

<7> Ladle, L, 2003, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 11 - 2002 (Unpublished document). SWX8532.

<7> Ladle, L, 2003, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 12 - 2003 (Unpublished document). SDO13970.

Record last edited

Apr 3 2021 3:04PM