Monument record MDO43350 - Dyke, Melcombe Horsey

Lies at the south end of Hog Hill. Built on the line of 'Celtic' field lynchets. Two stretches, set almost at a right angle to one another.

This is one of a group of dykes of non-defensive character which appear to be associated with the surrounding Iron Age/Romano British field systems. <1-2> ST 74330165 to ST 74700160 The non-defensive dyke is generally as described by RCHM <1>; it has suffered mutilation by debris tipping along the line of the northwest ditch, and the northeast terminal length of approximately 100.0m has been destroyed by the creation of a slurry-pit. There is now no surface evidence of the dyke's angular change of direction amongst the Nettlecombe Tout Farm building complex. The configuration of the dyke, and its relationship by a 'linking' lynchet scarp, to the Celtic fields, and double lynchet trackway at ST 74040184, strongly suggests that the earthwork represents the south-eastern boundary of the Romano/British settlement (ST 70 SW 57) on Bowden's Hill. Linear poorly defined on OS air photograph <3.1>. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <3>

Record last edited

Feb 15 2022 12:28PM