Monument record MDO718 - Long barrow on Smacam Down, Cerne Abbas

A mound interpreted as a probable long barrow. In 1952 this monument was described as an earthwork about 98 feet long with a ditch all round, the ditch cut into on the south by a later field boundary. The mound was around 54 feet wide at its widest point, and 5 feet high.

(SY 65739939) Long Barrow (NR). (1) SY 65729939. A long barrow, orientated north to south on Smacam Down, measured 98ft long by 40ft wide and 4.5ft high at the south end. A horseshoe-shaped ditch was said to have inturned at the south end although RCHM suggested that it had been filled-in by a field boundary at this point. There was an excavation hollow in the centre of the mound with the spoil dumped in the eastern-side ditch. (2) A grass-covered long barrow, 30.0m long north to south and 16.0m wide with the higher north end being 1.7m high, although in view of mutilation it has no significant higher end. There is a surrounding ditch averaging 4.0m wide and 0.5m deep except at the south end where it has been obliterated by a lynchet. The excavation hollow mentioned in Authy 1 is as described. (3) SY 657993. Cerne Abbas long barrow listed by Ashbee who adds that this type could be termed the U-ditch class, which are of medium size, and seem to be restricted to Dorset. (4) For 25" Re-survey of long barrow, see SY 69 NE 11. (5) No change. Revised at 1:2500 on MSD. (6)

Record last edited

Apr 25 2022 11:36AM