Monument record MDO3691 - Iron Age and Roman settlement on Chettle Down, Chettle

Remains of the Iron Age and Roman occupation have been largely flattened by cultivation, over an area of 5 acres on Chettle Down. Finds made at various times include a La Tène III bronze brooch, Durotrigian pottery, samian ware and New Forest and other coarse pottery.

The elliptical earthwork (at ST 94501487) associated with the settlement is listed by Allcroft as an amphitheatre or 'circus' of the Romano-British period, similar to others found on Cranborne Chase. Toms who excavated it in 1924, found a layer of chalk mud in the interior, below a layer of mould and chalk containing Romano-British pottery and burnt flints, and concluded that the feature had been a pond, similar to modern dew-ponds. <2> <3> The earthwork described as a pond or 'circus' (see plan) consists of an oval area surrounded by a strong bank, with an entrance at the N where the bank is lower and curves slightly to allow access. A double lynchet track-way runs from the S end of the earthwork where there could have been another entrance, now blocked up. Outside the northern entrance is an area of settlement with many vague hollows and unsurveyable curvilinear banks. Two pieces of Roman brick, sherds of Samian ware, part of a mortarium and other sherds of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery were found. The proximity of the field system (ST 91 SW 18) suggests an agricultral settlement. <4> IRON AGE AND ROMANO OCCUPATION DEBRIS, the remains of a settlement which now has been largely flattened by cultivation, occur over an area of 5 acres on Chettle Down. The site (94501490) occupies a S.-facing Chalk slope, about 330 ft. above sea-level, within an area of 'Celtic' fields. Finds made at various times, including material from trial trenches cut across an earthwork thought to be a pond, include a La Tene III bronze brooch, Durotrigian pottery, samian ware, and New Forest and other coarse pottery. <7> Chettle 14. Enclosure [of uncertain form], area 2ha. A hollow-way from SW, integrated with 'Celtic' fields, ends just S of settlementin probable 'open' space. <8>

Record last edited

Aug 22 2022 2:55PM