Monument record MDO768 - Romano-British settlement on Charlton Higher Down, Charminster

A settlement of late Iron Age and Romano-British date, associated with trackways and an extensive field system. In 1970 this monument was reported as consisting of seven hollows or platforms. Surface finds from the area include pottery from the 1st to 4th centuries, tile and worked stone.

(Centred SY 698954). `Celtic' fields, settlement and other remains. … A settlement on Charlton Higher Down (see below) is at the junction of local roads associated with the 'Celtic' fields. … The settlement, late Iron Age and Romano-British, on Charlton Higher Down (694956), occupies about 4 acres in the corner of a modern field adjoining the Piddlehinton boundary and has been much reduced by ploughing. The settlement lies at 475ft OD on the ridge of a spur sloping gently E from the high ground between the valleys of the Cerne and the Piddle. The main part consists of some seven platforms or hollows set into the slope and surrounded on all but the S by banks confining them within about 1 1/4 acres. A track running S from these platforms is bordered on the E by a series of small, irregular, terraced areas. It joins a major through track running N-S along the E side of the settlement and between it and the 'Celtic' fields; this in turn is joined by a track from the E. Finds from the platforms and terraces, and from the area E of the main trackway, include sherds in the Iron Age tradition, Samian and coarse pottery from the C1st to C4th, tile and worked stone. <4> The settlement at SY 694955 has been ploughed down and little resembles the plan of <4>. Its amorphous remains lie in pasture and are confined to the northwest of the site where there are some banks averaging 13.0m wide and 0.4m high. <6>

Record last edited

Sep 26 2023 2:07PM