EN3585: Buzbury Rings |
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HER: Dorset MDO5018
NMR: ST 90 NW 13 (209339)
SM: 1002718
NGR: ST91850590
X: 391869 Y: 105909 (EPSG:27700)
Boundary: ✓
Multiple enclosure or hillslope hillfort located at head of re-entrant on E-facing slope of Keynston Down overlooking dry valleys and downland which falls to River Tarrant, just ESE of Blandford. Steep on N quadrants, less on S. Much damaged by B3082 road Blandford Forum to Wimborne Minster running through site NNE-SE, many tracks and part of golf-course on NE third of site. Much of rest damaged or destroyed by ploughing. Several phases of construction and listing states recent geophysical and LiDar surveys 2006 revealed D-shaped Neolithic causewayed enclosure forming basis of site which continued in use, evolving in form, until Iron Age. Defined by inner enclosure, hexagonal shaped, c. 122m across and enclosing c. 1.2ha of single rampart 9.1m wide and c. 1.2m high, and cut on N side by later road and tracks. Within possible hut sites and many pits visible from air. Concentric from this enclosed area is outer, ovoid, circuit covering c. 4ha total and defined by bank to c. 10 wide and 1.5m high, with buried outer ditch c. 3m wide and 0.3m deep. Part-excavation found this V-shaped 3m wide and to 1.5m deep. To W an inner ditch also revealed 2m wide and similar depth. To S and W is a middle bank, c. 4m wide and to 0.5m high, with mostly buried ditch 5m wide and 0.5m deep. To SE possible structures cut into rampart and to NW, and just outside inner rampart, building scoops present. Entrances unclear, with many indeterminate gaps through all circuits, but close to road large number of breaks in the bank of inner enclosure probably later tracks, except for two in SE, one or both possibly original. Small trial excavations by E.W. Cunnington 1893 and J. Forde-Johnston 1957. Many finds, mostly from inner enclosure, including Iron Age and Roman pottery (2nd to 4th centuries AD), ox and sheep bone, flints and wattle-marked daub. Mostly rough grass and scrub. On 1st Ed. OS map (1888).
| Citizen Science: | ✓ | John Oswin, Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society. |
| Reliability of Data: | Confirmed: | Good data. |
| Reliability of Interpretation: | Unconfirmed: | May not be a hillfort as such, but small, enclosed agricultural settlement with long period of occupation. |
X: -235652 Y: 6595257 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -2.116899 Latitude: 50.852576 (EPSG:4326)
Country: England
Current County or Unitary Authority: Dorset
Historic County: Dorset
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Tarrant Keyneston
Much damaged by B3082 road Blandford Forum to Wimborne Minster running through site NNE-SE and many tracks. Part of Ashley Wood golf-course on NE third of site. Much of rest damaged or destroyed by ploughing.
| Extant: | ✓ |
| Cropmark: | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed: | ✓ |
Rough grass, golf course or road and scrub/trees on outer circuit. Main road.
| Woodland: | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation: | ✗ |
| Parkland: | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing): | ✓ |
| Arable: | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken: | ✓ |
| Bare Outcrop: | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland: | ✗ |
| Heath: | ✗ |
| Built-up: | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✓ |
Possible multiple enclosure or hillslope hillort located on E-facing slope of Keynston Down overlooking dry valleys and downland which falls to River Tarrant. Steep on N quadrants, less on S.
| Contour Fort: | ✗ |
| Partial Contour Fort: | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort: | ✗ |
| Hillslope Fort: | ✓ |
| Level Terrain Fort: | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort: | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort: | ✓ |
| Hilltop: | ✗ |
| Coastal Promontory: | ✗ |
| Inland Promontory: | ✗ |
| Valley Bottom: | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop: | ✗ |
| Ridge: | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp: | ✗ |
| Hillslope: | ✓ |
| Lowland: | ✗ |
| Spur: | ✗ |
Dominant Topographic Feature: Hillslope
| North: | ✗ |
| Northeast: | ✗ |
| East: | ✓ |
| Southeast: | ✗ |
| South: | ✗ |
| Southwest: | ✗ |
| West: | ✗ |
| Northwest: | ✗ |
| Level: | ✗ |
Altitude: 107.0m
| Boundary Type: | Parish/Townland |
Second HER: ✗
Second Current County or Unitary Authority: ✗
Second Historic County: ✗
Second Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Tarrant Rawston; Langton Long Blanford
Recent geophysical and LiDar surveys 2006, revealed D-shaped Neolithic causewayed enclosure forming basis of site, which continued in use, evolving in form, up until Iron Age. Iron Age and Roman pottery was found. Road-widening section of inner enclosure bank suggested scraped up after 2nd century AD. Mesolithic axes and flints were also present. No specific dating from excavations.
Reliability: C - Low
| Pre 1200BC: | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC: | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC: | ✓ |
| 400BC - AD50: | ✓ |
| AD50 - AD400: | ✗ |
| AD400 - AD 800: | ✗ |
| Post AD800: | ✗ |
| Unknown: | ✗ |
| Pre Hillfort Activity: | ✓ | Two Mesolithic axes (one tranchet) and flints. Possible causewayed enclosure. |
| Post Hillfort Activity: | ✗ |
| Artefactual: | Iron Age and Roman pottery was found. |
| Morphology/Earthwork/Typology: | Recent geophysical and lidar surveys 2006, revealed D-shaped Neolithic causewayed enclosure forming basis of site, which continued in use, evolving in form, up until Iron Age. |
| Other: | Road-widening section of inner enclosure bank suggested scraped up after 2nd century AD. |
On 1st Ed. OS map (1888). Excavation E. W. Cunnington 1893. Excavation J. Forde Johnston 1957. Road-widening section 1964. Geophysics and LiDAR surveys Geomatics 2006. Viewed by Hillfort Study Group 2016.
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1888): | OS map. |
| Excavation (1893): | E.W. Cunnington. |
| Excavation (1957): | J. Forde Johnston. |
| Excavation (1964): | Road-widening section. |
| Geophysical Survey (2005-6): | Geomatics. |
| LiDAR Survey (2006): | Geomatics. |
| Other (2016): | Viewed by Hillfort Study Group. |
Within inner enclosure possible hut circles and many pits visible from air. Many finds, mostly from inner enclosure, including Iron Age and Roman pottery (2nd to 4th centuries AD), ox and sheep bone, flints and wattle-marked daub.
| None: | ✓ |
| Spring: | ✗ |
| Stream: | ✗ |
| Pool: | ✗ |
| Flush: | ✗ |
| Well: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✗ |
Within inner enclosure roughly circular depressions possible hut circles 6m to 9m across and much mutilated by ploughing.
| No Known Features: | ✗ |
| Round Stone Structures: | ✗ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures: | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms: | ✓ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence: | ✓ |
| Pits: | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✗ |
No details.
| No Known Excavation: | ✗ |
| Pits: | ✗ |
| Postholes: | ✗ |
| Roundhouses: | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures: | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks: | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✗ |
| Nothing Found: | ✓ |
Causewayed enclosure found.
| No Known Geophysics: | ✗ |
| Pits: | ✗ |
| Roundhouses: | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures: | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks: | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✓ |
| Nothing Found: | ✗ |
Many finds, mostly from inner enclosure, including Iron Age and Roman pottery (2nd to 4th centuries AD), ox and sheep bone, flints and wattle-marked daub. Two Mesolithic axes.
| No Known Finds: | ✗ |
| Pottery: | ✓ |
| Metal: | ✗ |
| Metalworking: | ✗ |
| Human Bones: | ✗ |
| Animal Bones: | ✓ |
| Lithics: | ✓ |
| Environmental: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✓ |
Many pits visible from air in inner enclosure.
| APs Not Checked: | ✗ |
| None: | ✗ |
| Roundhouses: | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures: | ✗ |
| Pits: | ✓ |
| Postholes: | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✗ |
Entrances unclear and many indeterminate gaps through all circuits, but close to road large number of breaks in the bank of inner enclosure probably later tracks, except for two in SE, one or both possibly original.
| Total Number of Breaks Through Ramparts: | None: | Total not defined due to disturbance. Large number of gaps through all circuits. |
| Number of Possible Original Entrances: | 1: | Possible entrance on SE. |
Guard Chambers: ✗
| Chevaux de Frise: | ✗ |
| Entrance 1 (Southeast): | Simple Gap: | Through inner circuit close to road - possibly original. |
Defined by inner enclosure, hexagonal shaped, c. 122m across and enclosing c. 1ha of single rampart 9.1m wide and c. 1.2m high, and cut on N side by later road and tracks. Concentric from this enclosed area is outer circuit covering c. 5ha total and defined by bank to c. 10 wide and 1,5m high, with buried outer ditch c. 3m wide and 0.3m deep. Part-excavation found this V-shaped 3m wide and to 1.5m deep. To W an inner ditch also revealed 2m across and 1.5m deep. To S and W is a middle bank, c. 4m wide and to 0.5m high, with mostly buried ditch 5m wide and 0.5m deep.
| Enclosed Area 1: | 1.2ha. |
| Enclosed Area 2: | 4.0ha. |
| Enclosed Area 3: | ✗ |
| Enclosed Area 4: | ✗ |
| Total Enclosed Area: | 4.0ha. |
Total Footprint Area: ✗
| Multi-period Enclosure System: | ✓ | Morphology suggests several phases of construction. Inner enclosure c 1ha interior. Outer circuit encloses c. 4ha in total. |
| Ramparts Form a Continuous Circuit: | ✓ |
| Number of Ramparts: | 3 |
| Number of Ramparts NE Quadrant: | 2 |
| Number of Ramparts SE Quadrant: | 3 |
| Number of Ramparts SW Quadrant: | 3 |
| Number of Ramparts NW Quadrant: | 2 |
| Partial Univallate: | ✗ |
| Univallate: | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate: | ✓ |
| Bivallate: | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate: | ✓ |
| Multivallate: | ✗ |
| Unknown: | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate: | ✗ |
| Univallate: | ✓ |
| Partial Bivallate: | ✗ |
| Bivallate: | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate: | ✗ |
| Multivallate: | ✗ |
| None: | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank: | ✓ |
| Stone Wall: | ✗ |
| Rubble: | ✗ |
| Wall-walk: | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber: | ✗ |
| Vitrification: | ✗ |
| Other Burning: | ✗ |
| Palisade: | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank: | ✗ |
| Berm: | ✗ |
| Unfinished: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✗ |
Part-excavation of outer ditch of outer enclosure found this V-shaped 3m wide and to 1.5m deep. To W an inner ditch also revealed. Excavation though outer enclosure bank on W produced no datable material. Road-widening section of inner enclosure bank suggested scraped up after 2nd century AD.
| None: | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank: | ✗ |
| Stone Wall: | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex: | ✗ |
| Timber-framed: | ✗ |
| Timber-laced: | ✗ |
| Vitrification: | ✗ |
| Other Burning: | ✗ |
| Palisade: | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank: | ✗ |
| Berm: | ✗ |
| Unfinished: | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation: | ✗ |
| Other: | ✓ |
| Gang Working: | ✗ |
Ditches: ✓
| Number of Ditches: | 3: | Outer ditches to middle and outer ramparts, with inner ditch to outer circuit. Part-excavation of outer ditch of outer enclosure found this V-shaped 3m wide and to 1.5m deep. To W an inner ditch also revealed c. 2m across and 1.5m deep. No detail of any ditch to inner rampart, but could be buried feature. |
| Annex: | ✗ |
Farrar, R.A.H. 1954. Archaeological fieldwork in Dorset in 1953 and 1954. Recent finds at Buzbury Rings, Tarrant Keynston, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 76, 94-95.
Farrar, R.A.H. 1956. Archaeological fieldwork in Dorset, 1956. Miscellaneous discoveries and accessions, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 78, 91.
Forde-Johnston, J. 1958. Note on Excavations at Buzbury Rings, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 80, 107-108.
Fox, A. 1952. Hill-slope forts and related earthworks in South-Western England and South Wales, Archaeol J, 109, 1-22.
Gale, J. 2003. Prehistoric Dorset, Stroud: Tempus Publishing.
Radley, J. 1964. Occupation Remains at Buzbury Rings, Tarrant Keynston, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 86, 112-114
RCHME 1972. An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol 4: north Dorset, No 16, 102-104, London: RCHME.
Shattock M. 2006. AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF A POSSIBLE NEOLITHIC MONUMENT AT BUZBURY RINGS, DORSET: RE-ASSESSMENT OF PREVIOUS WORK. Unpublished.
Atlas of Hillforts: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/?query=Atlas_of_Hillforts_4166_0%2CMain_Atlas_Number%2C3585
Wikidata: http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q31115863
The online version of the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland should be cited as:
Lock, G. and Ralston, I. 2017. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. [ONLINE] Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk.
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