More information : (SU 24504972 to SU 24675020; SU 24665072 to SU 24525121; SU 24395130
to SU 24165145). Ditch (NR) (Four times)
(SU 24155146 to SU 23815168) Ditch (NR) (Course of). (1)
Air photographs (2) and the Salisbury Plain sheet (see plan (3))
show extensions to the bank and ditch at both extremities, to the
south to SU 24494918 and to the north to SU 23835168. (2-3)
At the south only a stretch from SU 24585001 to SU 24605007 can be
seen as a cropmark, the rest being ploughed out.
From SU 24665072 the ditch is up to 0.6m deep with a slight bank on
its E side and continues with occasional mutilation to SU 24525121.
A gap of 150.0m beyond this point is due to surface digging and
crossing by medieval and later trackways.
The last extant part is from SU 24395130 to SU 24165145, beyond
which there are now no traces on the ground. A presumed LBA/EIA
ranch boundary type earthwork.
Extant portions on OS 1:2500. (4)
The ditch was investigated as part of the Wessex Linear Ditch Project at SU 24575113 (LDP 091). An attempt was made to trace a connection between this ditch and the Quarley High Linear at SU 24804421 (LDP 008A- SU 24 SE 11). No link was established mainly due to the dense area of woodland and intensively cultivated farmland between the two, but the alignment of both along the ridge of the Bourne Valley has lead to the interpretation that they are parts of the same boundary.
The ditch had a V-shaped profile 3.4m wide and 1.4m deep, a bank and buried soil were found on its eastern side. Worked flint was recovered from the buried soil and ditch silts. A shallow feature containing a horse skull and a flaked axe was cut into the secondary silts. A radiocardon determination was taken from the horse skull, a date of c. 385 cal BC-AD 5 (OxA-3047) was obtained. This relates to a subsequent use of the boundary which was also recorded at Sidbury Double Linear Ditch (LDP 100 and 101-SU 25 SW 166), and LDP 090 SPTA 1959). These belong to a later stage in the development of the linear ditches system and indicate that parts of the original layout were being incorporated into a new and more expansive territorial system. (5) |