Monument record MDO18528 - Alington Avenue; Early Bronze Age Bipartite Ring-Ditch 2921

Evidence for an Early Bronze Age bipartite ring-ditch was discovered during excavations at Alington Avenue in the centre of the main site. It comprised two U-shaped ditches forming a sub-circular bipartite ring-ditch inserted into the eastern end of the largely silted up long barrow ditches. The (assumed) low mound of the long barrow may have been still visible. No features contemporary with the ring-ditch were identified within the ‘enclosed’ area, nor is it clear whether there was a central mound.

Found during a series of evaluations and excavations conducted by Wessex Archaeology at Alington Avenue, Fordington, Dorchester between 1984 and 1987. The results of the excavations have been published as a Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph; (DNHAS Monograph 15). The numbers in square brackets below refer to the context and feature numbers used in the published report (1). Early Bronze Age Bipartite Ring-Ditch [292]1was located in the centre of the main site. It comprised two U-shaped ditches [2922] & [2923], forming a sub-circular bipartite ring-ditch inserted into the eastern end of the largely silted up Neolithic long barrow ditches. The (assumed) low mound of the long barrow may have been still visible. The original Neolithic ditch terminals protruded to the east of the new features demonstrating that the latter was not added to long barrow in order to increase its length. Some fills of the ring-ditch derived from the re-deposition of earlier ditch fills (and possibly mound material). there was also a large body of ‘loess-like’ soils in the upper parts of the ditches suggesting that this structure was used in a different environment to the Neolithic monument. No features contemporary with the ring-ditch were identified within the ‘enclosed’ area, nor is it clear whether there was a central mound. In plan the ring-ditch was composed of two almost identical bracket or C-shaped ditches [2922] & [2923], aligned with, and reusing, a 14m length of the east end of the long barrows ditches. Each ditch comprised a straight central section c.8m long re-cutting the original monuments ditches to a more flat bottomed and straight sided profile ; and two short inward turned terminals c.6m long and aligned at approximately 60o to the straight central section. The causeways left between the two opposing pairs of ditch terminals were 6m wide on the west and 5m on the east. The ditches were carefully cut and symmetrical with trapezoidal profile and terminals sloping gentle up like ramps. This suggests that the ditches were not merely quarry ditches but deliberately constructed for their final appearance. Four cremation burials [SF209], [SF326], [SF327] & [SF 782] were associated with the northern ditch [2922] and one [SF1030] with the southern [2923]. Molluscan evidence suggests that the ring-ditch was constructed in open dry grassland with some bare earth (possibly arable fields). The ring ditch cut through the tertiary fills of the long barrow ditches; fills which contained late Neolithic and Beaker material suggesting a probable Early Bronze Age date of around 2000 BC for construction. A single sherd of Early Bronze Age collared urn was recovered from the primary fill of the south ditch [2923]. Roman pottery in the uppermost layers suggest that the ditches still showed as a slight hollow in the early centuries AD. The reason for the bipartite nature of the ring ditches may be the continuing presence of the Neolithic long mound. This suggests that the net result was the heightening of the east end of the earlier monument, perhaps to seal contemporary deposits placed on or inserted into the top of the earlier mound. Alternatively the up cast from the ditches may have been used to create a low external bank.

Record last edited

Dec 6 2023 4:24PM