Monument record MDO44553 - Undated field system, Tarrant Launceston

Linear banked and ditched features associated with an extensive field system of uncertain date are visible as cropmarks and earthworks to the northwest of Tarrant Launceston on aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery. The field boundaries create large rectilinear enclosures in part but also smaller enclosures more akin to a celtic field system type. The features either cross, or are crossed by, a late prehistoric linear earthwork (MDO44554), the precise relationship between these two sites being unclear. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A possible field system, of uncertain date, is visible as soilmarks on aerial photographs. The site is centred at ST 9348 0958 and comprises several narrow linear ditches which appear to form a pattern of probably conjoined rectilinear enclosures, which are perhaps fields. The site extends over an area that measures 600m east to west by up to 580m wide. Within this area the fields are orientated north / south or east / west and measure circa 190m long by 125m wide. The possible fields are morphologically very different to 'Celtic' field systems identified locally which may suggest a different date, although some of the field boundary ditches appear to abut a later Prehistoric linear dyke. (1-3) Linear banked and ditch features associated with an extensive field system of uncertain date are visible as cropmarks and earthworks to the northwest of Tarrant Launceston on aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery [1-3]. The field boundaries create large rectilinear enclosures in part but also smaller enclosures more akin to a celtic field system type. The features extend across several historic fields covering an area roughly 810m by 870m. The features either cross, or are crossed by, a late prehistoric linear earthwork (MDO44554) that runs from northeast to southwest, the precise relationship between these two sites being unclear. The features may therefore pre-date the linear earthwork, being potetnially Iron Age or earlier, or post-date it, being potetnially Roman or later. The latter seems perhaps more likely but would need further investigation to clarify. The field system is also recorded under NRHE Hob UID 1481105. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2023 6:49AM