Enclosure consisting of 3 sections of wide curvilinear ditch cut by atrack on Cooting Downs: linear features and splodges in and around the enclosure. (1,2)

The enclosure and associated features were again photographed as cropmarks on July 16th 2001. The enclosure is a maximum of 95 metres across, and appears to feature 4 entrances or causeways through the enclosing ditch. The gap on the north is circa 10 metres across, the one at the eastern corner is circa 5 metres; the third, at the western corner, is no more than 4 metres across; while the fourth, on the west-facing side, is around 17 metres long but is blocked almost entirely by a much narrower length of ditch following the same alignment as the main enclosure ditch. It may represent either a first phase of the enclosure, or a later blocking phase. Within the enclosed area are some splodges of various shape and size which might or might not represent contemporary features.

The sides of the enclosure are markedly curvilinear, with rounded corners, with the excpetion of the very straight eastern side, which meets the southern side at a marked angular junction and continues for a short distance north of the enclosure as a linear, perhaps suggesting that a pre-existing linear ditch has been incorporated into the enclosure's layout? Another linear runs due north from the enclosure for at least 250 metres, while other shorter lengths of ditch can be seen in the vicinity. Their date and function, along with additional splodges, remains uncertain. Morphologically, the enclosure itself seems most likely to date to the Iron Age, though only excavation could confirm this. Possible Roman settlement lies less than 40 metres to the south (see TR 25 SW 88). (3)

<1> AP (NMR TR2251/9; 4 3 77) (OS Card Reference). SKE33850.

<2> AP (NMR TR2251/15; 17 4 78) (OS Card Reference). SKE33845.

<3> Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SKE54862.