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.
Well preserved prehistoric field systems are rare nationally. They provide
important evidence of a carefully planned organisation of the
landscape and definition of landholdings. The significance of
the Weather Hill field systems is considerably enhanced by
their association with a major boundary earthwork and several
prehistoric funerary monuments each deemed to be nationally important
in their own right.
Details
The monument includes an expanse of "Celtic" field system on a
south-west facing slope. It is limited to the east by a linear
earthwork which articulates with a pair of east-west linear earthworks
and a further north-south earthwork aligned on Sidbury Hill. Several
other monuments are incorporated in the constraint area.
1 - An area of field system with well preserved banks and ditches, with
lynchets c.1.8m high. It is enclosed by a contemporary boundary ditch/drove
road. It is in good condition although there is some vehicle damage.
2 - A bowl barrow that can not now be located. Excavations in the 19th
century produced Romano-British coins and pottery and Bronze Age and
pottery. (SU19535120)
3 - A boundary ditch with a bank on the west, c.10m overall width. It bounds
the southern sides of a field system, and is connected to an extensive system
of earthworks connected with Sidbury Hill. There is damage at the junction
with a linear earthwork to the east.
4 - A long barrow c.43m north-east/south-west axis and c.37 wide. Only traces
of the side ditches remain and the mound has been damaged by vehicles. Several
partial excavations in the 19th century revealed inhumations. (SU19885166)
5 - A ring ditch in old grassland, located using air photographs. (SU1932513O)
6 - A small area of field system located on a downland spur.
7 - A large boundary earthwork of ditch/bank/ditch construction extending
northwards from Sidbury Hill. This section has some vehicle damage.
8 - A boundary ditch with a bank to the southern side branching from the
north-south boundary earthwork. The feature curves southwards to skirt a
barrow which may have acted as a marker.
9 - A boundary ditch with a bank on the north which almost joins the north-
south boundary earthwork. There is some vehicle damage.
10 - A badly damaged disc barrow called "Large Druid Barrow" cut on the east
by the later north-south earthwork. Although damaged a possible site is just
traceable on the ground. (SU21335124)
11 - A ditched bowl barrow with an overall diameter of c.30m. The barrow has
been damaged by military activity. (SU20725158)
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10051
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
