Summary
earthwork component of suspected iron age ritual enclosure
Identification Images (0)
Most Recent Monitoring
None Recorded
Monument Types
- DITCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
Description
This outer ditch is a well-formed earthwork generally 3m deep and 5m wide, with a "U" profile. The banks are less high in the W of the section adjoining 31487, where they were possibly slighted to create the causeway for that track. Ironically, the ditch is slightly better excavated here, consistant with the section to the E of 31487. In general though, the earthwork would have filled a natural gully at this point, probably also lessening its surface appearance. There is quite serious sheep poaching at the inside edge of the W terminal of the feature, which must be arrested.
The depth of excavation of the ditch varies along the length of its course, in a "gang-work" fashion. c.7m E of 31487 the better excavated section ends. This change corresponds with the position of a relict path route affecting the adjoining banks and there may have been some "causewaying" in the ditch, as at the point where 31487 crosses it.
Further E again the rising banks compensate for a loss of depth in the ditch. There is some evidence of slight banking "outside" the ditch (ie to the S) especially W of the detached field wall. This wall runs up to the ditch and clearly used it as a continuing boundary. There are footpath scars in the S bank here.
Towards the E end of the section the ditch starts to turn N. At this point there is some sheep damage to the S side of the ditch, but relatively little compared with elsewhere. At the very end the ditch again widens and then stops abruptly, cut off by 31652. This is a strong indication that the enclosure once continued further E.
Other Statuses and References
None Recorded
Associated Events
None Recorded
Associated Finds
None Recorded