Field system and settlement north of Chapperton Down

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 reorganisation of landscape and definition of landholdings. The examples in the Salisbury Plain Training Area are some of the best surviving nationally, and their articulation with other contemporary archaeological features, such as land boundaries and enclosures, makes them worthy of scheduling.

Prehistoric and later period villages surviving as earthworks are rare nationally, as are any associations with contemporary field systems or other landholdings. The importance of the examples in the Salisbury Plain Training Area is considerably enhanced by the demonstrable relationship between the settlements, field systems and major boundary earthworks which provide exceptionally complete evidence of human reorganisation of the landscape. This makes the examples in the Training Area worthy of national protection.

Details

An area of field system surrounding an unexcavated settlement. 1 - An Iron age/Romano-British field system, with field banks up to 2m high. The area has been damaged by shells and military vehicles. 2 - A settlement identified in antiquity. The site has never been confirmed and there is no dating evidence. Surface irregularities may define a settlement but no features can be identified.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

10106

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

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

End of official list entry

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