EDO6572 - National Mapping Programme Wild Purbeck; aerial photographic interpretation 2013-2014

An archaeological survey involving the interpretation, mapping and recording of archaeological sites from aerial photographs and lidar of 346 km2 of Purbeck. The survey used Historic England's National Mapping Programme methodology. The project was a rapid baseline survey enhancing understanding of Purbeck's historic assets, of particular interest were those areas of heathland lost to 20th century plantation. By recording directly into the Dorset HBSMR database, the results were immediately available to facilitate assessment of their significance and permit effective management of the resource. The project provided a significant enhancement to existing baseline data with 2328 archaeological sites recorded of which 1934 were new to the Dorset HER. One potential new long barrow was identified for the first time as well as 45 new Bronze Age round barrows. Only small numbers of later prehistoric monuments were recognised (eight Iron Age, ten Iron Age/Romano British and 62 prehistoric or Roman sites); the majority (54%) of sites were new to the Dorset HER. Sites relating to the later medieval period were more richly represented with 112 sites recorded with the greatest densities to the south of the Purbeck Hills. A third of all sites recorded were attributed to the post medieval or early twentieth-century periods, the project is perhaps one of the first to systematically record post medieval sites within the project area. Evidence for twentieth century military activity was identified right across the project area, particularly on the open heathlands, many of which may have dated to the First World War.