Monument record MDO44824 - Prehistoric field system, Alton Pancras

Field system of Iron Age/Romano-British date. Scatters of Roman pottery and tile have been found in places.

Centred at ST 68120342. An area of rather poorly defined field banks and lynchets of IA/RB type, almost entirely under rough pasture. Medieval strip lynchets fall into two groups, 'A' and 'B'. 'A' centred at ST 68750376. Fairly pronounced east-west strip lynchets which are parallel and follow the contours, but are irregularly spaced. 'B' centred at ST 68270355. Pronounced NE-SW lynchets which form five parallel but irregularly spaced terraces. There may have been two short north-south lynchets centred at ST 68510334 but these have been virtually destroyed. <1> Celtic fields south of Barne's Lane considerably disturbed by chalk pits, strip lynchets and ploughing of uncertain age. The lynchets are up to 6ft high. Romano-British pottery and tiles have been found scattered around. <2> The Celtic field system has been reduced to a few small areas of about six hectares each. Around ST 68220335 are square Celtic fields of approximately 0.12 hectares (40.0m x 30.0m) bounded by negative lynchets up to 0.7m high. Around ST 68440380 the fields are square and of 0.2 hectares (40.0m x 50.0m) approximately, with flint and earth banks and lynchets 0.2m high. The lynchets within the areas 'A' and 'B' (2) have been ploughed out. <3>

Record last edited

Nov 23 2022 1:57PM