SWX3841 - A Survey of the Archaeological Sites On Sopley Common, Dorset

The known archaeological sites on the common consist of three Bronze Age round barrow; about 30 small unidentified earthworks; and an area of Mesolithic occupation. Only one of these sites is shown on Ordnance Survey maps, and records of the others are incomplete and in some cases incorrect. Considerable damage is occurring to the barrows, largely due to their existence or whereabouts being unknown to some of the users of the common. A brief survey of the area has therefore been carried out in the hope that the provision of further information will allow avoidable damage to be reduced.