Reasons for Designation
Earthen enclosures provide evidence of land use and agricultural practices in
the prehistoric and Romano-British period, although later examples are also
known. They were constructed as stock pens or as protected areas for crop
growing and were sometimes subdivided to provide temporary accommodation for
stock, farmers or herdsmen. The size and form of enclosures may vary
considerably depending on their particular function.
Their variation in form, longevity and their relationship to other monument
classes, including extensive field systems, provide information on the
diversity and social organisation and farming practices through the period of
their use.
Despite being disturbed by quarrying activity, the two enclosures and
associated linear earthwork 625m north of Barbury Castle hillfort will contain
archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and
the landscape in which it was constructed.
Details
The monument includes two earthwork enclosures and a linear earthwork which
lie on the flat plain below the downland escarpment occupied by Barbury Castle
hillfort 625m to the south.
The enclosures are aligned from east to west and are curvilinear in plan. A
length of linear earthwork links the two enclosures. The eastern enclosure
includes a bank approximately 6m wide and an outer ditch 0.7m deep and up to
6m wide. The ditch and part of the bank on the north and east sides have been
disturbed by quarrying activities. A length of bank which extends from the
north west corner of the enclosure is considered to be upcast from the quarry
and is therefore not included in the scheduling.
The bank and ditch of the western enclosure have been disturbed by quarrying
activities on its northern side and survives as an earthwork only on the
southern side. The surviving length of bank is approximately 5m wide and the
ditch approximately 6m wide by 0.7m deep.
The two earthwork enclosures are linked by a length of linear earthwork 80m
long. This has a bank 6m wide to the south of which is a ditch 6m wide.
The ditch extends beyond the length of the bank to the east and west and forms
the southern ditch of the enclosures.
A further enclosure, a short distance to the south, is the subject of a
separate scheduling.
All fence posts and horse jumps are excluded from the scheduling but the
ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28970
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
