Chapperton Down Prehistoric and Romano-British Landscape

Reasons for Designation

The most complete and extensive survival of chalk downland archaeological remains in central southern England occurs on Salisbury Plain, particularly in those areas lying within the Salisbury Plain Training Area. These remains represent one of the few extant archaeological "landscapes" in Britain and are considered to be of special significance because they differ in character from those in other areas with comparable levels of preservation. Individual sites on Salisbury Plain are seen as being additionally important because the evidence of their direct association with each other survives so well. Romano-British villages surviving as earthworks are rare nationally, as are extensive, well preserved, Romano-Celtic field systems. The association of a Roman village surviving as impressive earthworks, extensive contemporary field systems and several major prehistoric land boundaries provides significant evidence for the nature of Romano-British downland settlement and agricultural practises. Additionally the monument includes several prehistoric funerary monuments considered to be of national importance in their own right.

Details

An area of well preserved, prehistoric and Romano-British landscape including an unexcavated settlement, field systems and associated contemporary and non-contemporary features. 1 - A settlement site consisting of a street with associated house platforms. There is no recorded excavation but pottery and a brooch have been found. Recent military activity has caused some damage. (ST996481) 2 - A mound first described as a long barrow with the southern end levelled. Re-evaluation concluded that confusion arose in early records and the mound is the `nonsepulchral' round mound described by Colt Hoare. (ST99604806) 3 - A ditched bowl barrow, overall diameter is c.24m. Little trace of the ditch now survives and the mound has been damaged by mammals and the military. (SU00174728) 4 - A long barrow called "Kill barrow", c.52m long. This barrow has been partially excavated in the 19th century and is also damaged by military activity. (SU00014789) 5 - A field system of Celtic type with lynchets between 1m - 2m high. The area is grass covered with some scrub. There is some military damage. 6 - A boundary bank/ditch/bank feature leading to a settlement to the west. The earthwork is associated with the surrounding fields and is an integral part of the landscape. 7 - A boundary ditch running north-west/south-east across Chapperton Down and associated with the field systems in the area. 8 - A celtic field system with poorly preserved banks. The area is grass covered and is known to have been uncultivated in the 19th century. 9 - A slight circular mound located beside a tank track, it could be the remains of an eroded barrow, but may be of military origin. There is no sign of a ditch. (SU00414765) 10 - A series of holloways coming downland from Imber and Chitterne to Tilshead and West Lavington. 11 - A boundary ditch to the south of Chapperton Down. It is under long grass and difficult to distinguish. 12 - A field system surviving due to lack of cultivation in recent centuries. 13 - A set of three ponds, interpreted as Romano-British. They are unaffected by weed and scrub growth and are only affected by minimal vehicle damage. (SU003479)

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

10105

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Wiltshire Library & Museum Service, (1987)
Trust for Wessex Archaeology, (1987)

End of official list entry

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