Monument record MDO42979 - Iron Age/Romano-British field systems, settlement, Combe Bottom, Maiden Newton, Cattistock

Linear banks and ditches that form part of an extensive area of Iron Age/Romano-British field systems and settlement are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs in the area of Combe Botttom, Maiden Newton and Cattistock. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project.

A `Celtic' field system situated mainly on the east side of Combe Bottom inlcudes a number of hollow tracks between field banks which may indicate the close proximity of a settlement. There are further traces of cultivation to the south-east of Norden Lane. <2> Centred SY 607988. An Iron Age/Romano-British 'Celtic'-type field system situated on downland. In the areas SY 607983, SY 610990, SY 605989 and SY 601986 are low field banks and pronounced lynchets forming rectilinear fields. A double lynchet track runs through the area SY 605989. In the area centred SY 600985 is a probable settlement, situated on the hill top and consisting of a bank and outer ditch extending from 'J' - SY 61069859 to 'K' 61029853. This feature is bounded on the north west by an abnormally close lynchet - possibly indicating the beginning of the settlement when the fields were already developed. Two linear banks with their southern terminals ploughed out are visible from 'J'-'L' (SY 61089854) and 'K'-'M' (SY 61039846). Within the area bounded by these banks are several mounds and hollows which are common to settlement sites. Grass-covered lynchets and fieldways are visible to the north of the settlement site at SY 609987. Pronounced Medieval strip lynchets can also be seen at SY 60509888. OS 25" Survey revised. <3> The field systems, in the areas indicated by Authy 3, are clearly defined on air photographs. The probable settlement at SY 600985 is not so pronounced, however. <8> The hollows and mounds reported by Authority (3), possibly representing habitation sites, can no longer be traced. The only remaining elements of settlement occupy one hectare centred at SY 61029853 and consist of fragmentary banks and holloways convergingupon a probable later but now dry pond (see plan). The banks average 0.4m high and 4.5m wide, exaggerated by the incorporation of upcast in the vicinity of the pond. The `Celtic' field system is much reduced and appears in isolated pockets. The two prominent areas are centred at SY 601986 and at SY 609987, north of the settlement. The fields average 80m by 95m with lynchets 1.6m high and banks 5.0m wide and 0.6m high in arable land. Holloways complex surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <9> Settlement and associated fields near New Barn. About half the 'Celtic' fields reported in RCHM Dorset 1 (3) have been destroyed. On the flat hill top to the north and south of New Barn are slight traces of Medieval type ridge and furrow, which have largely destroyed the earlier 'Celtic' fields there, as well as damaging the settlement. There are further traces of ridge and furrow on some of the better preserved 'Celtic' fields to the west. At a subsequent period the whole are has been divided into 'Doles' whose boundaries are still preserved as old hedge banks. SY 611985. The settlement apppears to consist of a roughly rectangular enclosure perhaps 230 ft square, but possibly larger with some form of subsidary out work to the south. It appears to have been built insidean existing 'Celtic' field, the north east and south west sides being the original field sides later ditched and embanked. The west corner has been much disturbed by construction of a large pond. From the ground remains the settlement is later than the 'Celtic' field on which it is set, and earlier than the medieval ridge and furrow which has partly destroyed it, thus suggesting an Iron Age/Romano British date. To test this a small trial hole 1 ft square was dug into one of six circular or sub rectangular scoops which may represent building sites. Below circa 1ft of clean brown earth was a flint rubble ?floor on top of which was a quantity of Iron Age or Romano British sherds. (See plan). SY 610990. Earthworks 250m north of the above, consisting of `Celtic'fields around a track extending uphill to a junction with a contour-hugging track, curves in which suggest the avoidance of associated features alongside it, possibly of settlement. The tracks are lynchetted and hollowed. (See plan). (7) SY 609987. Field system and settlement site east of Combe Bottom. Scheduled. (See illustration for scheduled area). (8-9) Linear banks and ditches that form part of an extensive area of Iron Age/Romano-British field systems and settlement are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs in the area of Combe Botttom, Maiden Newton and Cattistock (1-6). The features appear to represent elements of a large co-axial field system, including field boundaries and trackways. Towards its southeast edge is a sub-rectilinear banked enclosure, recorded as an enclosed Iron Age farmstead (MDO42980). The farmstead enclosure and part of the field system to its northwest are a Scheduled Monument (List Entry 1002859) but these features are part of a wider area of associated features. These were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project. It is possible that some of the linear banked features include those of later, possibly medieval origin. At its southwest corner the field system overlaps with features recorded under MDO681. The majority of features are still visible as earthworks and cropmarks over various years of Google Earth imagery.

Record last edited

Oct 30 2023 11:02AM