Monument record MDO1699 - Mounds on Bowden's Hill, Melcombe Horsey

A spread of around 20 mounds from ST 4707 0204 to ST 7413 0206. In 1956 test excavations were done of three of these mounds, and the results suggested that they were most probably natural features.

Group of about 20 mounds in the area. These were tested by the RCHM in 1956, before ploughing, and were shown not to be barrows, but probably natural features. <1> (Centred ST 74100210) A group of twenty mounds scattered over some two and a half acres on Bowden's Hill between the settlement (ST 70 SW 47) and the cross dyke. (ST 70 SW 36). They vary in shape from roughly round to kidney-shaped and in size from 7ft to 30ft across. Most of them are about 1ft high and test excavations in three of them, prior to levelling and ploughing in the area, have yielded no archaeological data. They may be of natural origin. <1-3> Area centred ST 74100210. The flinty earthen mounds remain as described by RCHM <1>. They do not appear to be sepulchral and may as suggested, be natural. It is also possible that they represent the residue of a ploughed out northern area Iron Age/Romano British settlement which partly remains on Bowden's Hill. <4>

Record last edited

Feb 3 2022 2:44PM