Monument record MDO32395 - Banjo enclosure NNE of Gussage All Saints, Gussage All Saints

Banjo enclosure with elongate entrance to the ESE, moderately well defined as a cropmark on aerial photography dated 2002 and 2005. The enclosure is clearly visible on a 1975 aerial photograph and was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

Banjo enclosure with an elongate double-ditched entrance to the ESE, clearly- to moderately visible as a cropmark on aerial photography dated 2002 and (with more clarity) 2005. The main enclosure is irregularly sub-circular with a maximum diameter of c111m and a maximum estimated ditch width of c2.5m. The ditches flanking the entrance way appear to be c80m long. They are set c9m apart where they join the main enclosure, diverging to a separation of c27m at the distal end. Internally there are a number of discrete cropmark anomalies that may indicate sub-surface features. This site (along with Monument MDO 32402) comprises part of a series of cropmarks defined and published by G.J.Wainwright (1979) as the "Gussage 2" Iron Age settlement. The banjo enclosure is clearly visible as a broadly 104m by 112m irregularly sub-circular ditched enclosure on a 1975 aerial photograph (1). A possible entrance way is visible on its ESE side as a curvilinear double-ditched trackway, although the north side of this may be part of a later ditched rectilinear boundary associated with field system MDO32402 (see below). A ditched curvilinear annexe is present on its north side.Within the enclosure a series of possible pits and curvilinear features, possibly ring ditches, are visible (1). To the east of the banjo enclosure are a series of narrow ditched rectilinear and curvilinear features, though to be associated with a broadly contemporary field system and possible settlement (MDO32402). A right-angled rectilinear ditched boundary appears to overlie the banjo enclosure on its northeast side, suggesting there was also a later phasing of Iron Age and Romano-British activity in this location. The cropmark detail of this rectilinear boundary at its southern end obscures the detail of a possible entrance way to the banjo enclosure on its ESE side. To the south and east of the banjo enclosure, and within the extent of the field system and settlement MDO32402 are further sub-circular features suggesting pits and possible ring ditches, which may indicate a wider area of broadly contemporary settlement activity at this location. The banjo enclosure and associated features are still visible on current vertical aerial photographs. The features lie within cropped fields and are potentially vulnerable to plough activity. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2023 1:39PM