Tarrant Launceston

Aerial photographs taken in 2006 prompted a re-evaluation of the oval enclosure known as Tarrant Launceston 15 and its surrounding landscape.  It had been listed as probably Iron Age or Roman in the RCHME’s inventory volume (1972) but the photographs showed a number of breaks, or causeways, in the ditch that defines the monument, perhaps indicating that the site is actually a Neolithic causewayed enclosure and considerably older than had previously been thought.  Mapping and interpretation of a contextual area of 10.5km² around Tarrant Launceston 15 took place in the summer of 2008 and the project report is in progress.

Tarrant Launceston 15 sits in the rolling chalk downland of Cranborne Chase, an area that has long drawn archaeological attention.  The "Tarrant Launceston 15 and Environs Aerial Survey and Analysis Project" was set up as a case study to assess the potential for the re-interpretation of a well known area by extracting new information from existing collections of aerial photographs.   

The analysis is considering the character and distribution of monuments, paying special attention to the Neolithic period and how a causewayed enclosure would fit within local, regional and national patterns.  Three other themes will be considered: prehistoric round barrows (funerals); “Celtic” and other field systems and evidence for post medieval agricultural improvements (farming), and 20th century military activity (fighting).

The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the NMR English Heritage's public archive.

For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us at: AerialSurvey@english-heritage.org.uk.