RECTILINEAR LANDSCAPES IN DORSET JOHN DAVEY Ofprint from the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society Volume 134 2013 Hon. Editor, Paul Lashmar Rectilinear Landscapes in Dorset JOHN DAVEY Summary supported by the work of the author (Davey 2010a) and esearch conducted during the South Cadbury will be discussed further below. Nevertheless, it was REnvirons Project and the Dorset Historic not until the publication of Williamson’s work on the Towns Project suggests that extensive areas of Dorset are Scole-Dickleburgh ield system in East Anglia that the characterized by rectilinear land division. Archaeological potential for fossilization of prehistoric ield systems in evidence indicates that these landscapes, partially fossilized in the modern landscape became apparent (Williamson the modern landscape, originated during the late prehistoric 1987). A number of recent studies have emphasised the period. The intensity of their use has luctuated over the last late Saxon context for modiication and intensiication two millennia and individual ield boundaries may have a of rectilinear land division (Oosthuizen 2005, Costen relatively short life span. However, the prevailing alignments 2007). The question of timing for ield system origins have survived. It is suggested, in accordance with Williamson has also been identiied as a key research objective in (2003, 40), that these alignments originated as territorial the South West Archaeological Research Framework boundaries subdividing river valleys so that each ‘estate’ had a (Webster 2008, 280, Research aim 10c). This paper share of natural resources from valley loor to upland pasture. A will address this key issue with particular reference rectilinear communications patern then developed within and to Dorset. linking each territory. Field boundaries later subdivided the There are many reasons why modern rectilinear territories in the most economical manner through the creation alignments have only slowly been accepted as of straight line fences and hedged ditches perpendicular and of potential prehistoric origin. Firstly, the period parallel to the pre-existing rectilinear paterns. Five case division that has formed the basis of archaeological studies are examined from a variety of Dorset’s geological study since the nineteenth century; the tripartite regions, although all have a similar topographical proile: division of prehistory, was established as a means of parallel valleys with gently sloping sides. understanding and ordering artefacts, but is of limited Christopher Taylor, in 1970, was the irst to note use in understanding landscape change. Similarly, the widespread existence of long continuous hedge the division of the last two millennia into ancient, lines running perpendicular to chalk valleys in Dorset. medieval and modern is a socio-historical one and has These parallel boundaries subdivide the landscape in litle basis in the landscape. These divisions have led to a series of thin strips, each with its own hamlet or to a disjointed approach to archaeological research in farmstead dating from at least the late Saxon period which specialists study their own period in isolation (Taylor 2004, 51-61). He suggested they were late and outside of its broader chronological context. Saxon or earlier in origin, based on documentary More recently the study of transitional periods has evidence of Saxon charters and Domesday. Taylor’s come to the fore in archaeological, and geological, work predated that of Fleming on the Dartmoor reaves research. Even in this respect, it is the explanation and by nearly a decade (Fleming 1978). It was Fleming’s understanding of change that is emphasized rather work that demonstrated the prehistoric origins than continuity. of rectilinear or co-axial land division in Britain. Secondly, the default position concerning regular However, because the Dartmoor reaves are essentially rectilinear ield boundaries depicted on modern or earthwork monuments, obsolete during recent nineteenth-century maps is that they were formed millennia, the connection between Taylor’s Saxon land during the enclosure of open ields and common waste division and Fleming’s prehistoric landscapes was between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. An not immediately apparent. Barker (1977; 1984, 13-20) accepted morphology of medieval and later ields has recognised rectilinear alignments in the Sherborne developed based on a chronological developmental area and suggested they were of Roman or prehistoric sequence. In this scheme the irst ields were enclosed origin, based on their similarity in plan to the Dartmoor from a virgin landscape of woodland and scrub, reaves. Keen (1984) in opposition, maintained that they regenerated following the collapse of the Roman were a Saxon creation, probably partly inluenced by Empire. These Saxon enclosures later evolved into a Taylor’s groundbreaking analysis. A prehistoric origin highly regulated midland ield system of strips within for these Sherborne alignments has recently been large open arable ields surrounded by common 175 John Davey pasture, woodland and meadow. Demographic and at which it went out of use. Boundaries that remain economic expansion during the twelth and early in use during the modern period are generally thirteenth centuries led to the enclosure of small undateable by archaeological means. We must rely on irregular assarts from former woodland and waste. their relationship to other features in the landscape Enclosures from the seventeenth century onwards such as political boundaries that may be dated from led to the formation of blocks of ields retaining Anglo-Saxon charters. Extant ields may also be dated aratral curves within their boundaries derived from through ‘horizontal stratigraphy’. In other words, can former arable strips. Parliamentary enclosures in the they be shown to either respect or, be cut by, dateable nineteenth century led to a more rigid ruler-straight features such as Roman roads? It must be noted that ield boundary deining regular rectangular blocks of the dating of surviving ield systems is much more ields. This scheme is over simplistic and no longer efective if they are studied in conjunction with other recognized by medieval landscape archaeologists, related landscape features such as communications although it is perhaps still more readily accepted among and setlement paterns. This allows for a greater the wider archaeological community. The primary range of potentially dateable features. For example, law is in its initial assumption that Roman enclosed the survey and excavation of a Roman setlement at ields largely went out of use and were absorbed into Englands, Charlton Horethorne, Somerset suggests regenerated woodland and waste during the post- that an extensive rectilinear ield system, associated Roman period. In other words, medieval ields were with a Roman setlement, is also Roman or earlier in assumed to have developed on a blank canvas. origin (Davey 2010a, 88-92). A third problem lies in the archaeological excavation There are caveats associated with this landscape and dating of extant ield boundaries. Field boundary archaeological methodology. Individual ields cannot ditches that remain in use are cleaned out on a regular be securely dated by association in this way, only basis in order to retain their primary functions as ield general alignments. In other words, it can be shown drains and barriers against the movement of stock. It that a particular alignment of boundary has been is only when a ield boundary ditch goes out of use prevalent in the region, although individual ields that it is allowed to silt up. Thus any excavation of may have been subdivided or added at an undisclosed a disused ield boundary will only date the period later date. 176 Rectilinear Landscapes in Dorset Where such studies can be made it is becoming clear Barker 1988, 32-3), Winterborne Valley (Taylor 2004, that rectilinear ield systems have been developing 57), Iwerne Valley (Drew 1947), Milborne, Tarrant and episodically since the Bronze Age. The work of Taylor Allen Valleys, for example. in Dorset and Williamson in East Anglia suggests that The Frome Valley north of Dorchester the landscape was originally divided into regular portions through long linear boundaries running This area comprises gently sloping, south facing, across river valleys; so that each polity held a share chalk down land on the north side of the river Frome of resources including river access, meadows, well between its tributary the River Cerne in the west and drained arable land and higher pasture and woodland. Puddletown Forest in the east. It forms an ideal study Subsequent intensiication of production could be area, not only because of the evidence for surviving achieved most economically through the creation of rectilinear ield alignments in the modern landscape, further straight boundaries parallel and perpendicular but also because of the existence of well-preserved to the original long boundaries. These boundaries prehistoric crop marks and earthworks recorded represent a valuable economic investment and, once by the South Dorset Ridgeway National Mapping established, are more likely to be maintained than Programme (Fig. 1). The South Dorset Ridgeway destroyed. Human beings take a pragmatic approach NMP began in September 2008 and maps earthwork to landscape change: ‘If it aint broke, don’t ix it’. and crop mark monuments visible from aerial The above points will be further examined using photographs