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Old Sarum

Wiltshire, England · Atlas EN0406

Old Sarum is a contour fort in Salisbury City, Wiltshire, England.

It is recorded as extant, with a bivallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank, and an enclosed area of 12 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a spur and at 100 m.

The aspect is recorded as level.

Recorded land use includes pasture and built-up land.

Dating evidence is recorded for 800–400 BC, 400 BC–AD 50, and AD 50–400 (Morphology/Earthwork/Typology). Reliability is recorded as C - Low.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1015675).

Location

Atlas number
EN0406 (406)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
Wiltshire
Historic county
Wiltshire
Parish, community, or townland
Salisbury City
National Grid reference
SU13773269
Latitude
51.09337
Longitude
-1.80464
Altitude
100 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
bivallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
2
Number of ditches
1
Possible original entrances
2
Breaks through the ramparts
2
Enclosed area
12 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank
Also recorded
multi-period enclosure system and ditches
Entrance forms
Hornwork (East); Barbican (East); Blocked (West)

Landscape

Topographic position
spur
Aspect
level
Land use
pasture and built-up land

Dating

Dating
800–400 BC, 400 BC–AD 50, and AD 50–400
Dating evidence
Morphology/Earthwork/Typology
Dating reliability
C - Low

Interior and investigation

Interior excavation
pits
Finds
metal
Investigations
Excavation (1796); Excavation (1835); Excavation (1854); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1881); Excavation (1957); Excavation (1967); Other (1984); Other (1990); Geophysical Survey (2015); 1st Identified Written Reference (1665-1693); Excavation (1909-1915)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1015675
HER
Wiltshire and Swindon MWI11119
National record
record SU 13 SW 30; monument 218530
Wikidata
Q782719

Sources

References

  1. Anon. 2015. Old Sarum survey reveals lost city. Current Archaeol, 299, 6.
  2. Darvill, T., Stamper, P. and Timby, J. 2002: England an archaeological guide. Oxford: OUP, 403.
  3. Pitts, M. 2015. Survey reveals Old Sarum was a major town. Brit Archaeol, January/February 2015, 6-7.
  4. Rahtz P. A .and Musty J. 1964.The Suburbs of Old Sarum, Wiltshire Archaeol Natur Hist Mag, 59, 130-154.
  5. Rahtz, P A and Musty, J .W. G 1960. Excavations at Old Sarum 1957, Wiltshire Archaeol Natur Hist Mag, 57, 353-370.
  6. RCHME 1980. Ancient and historical monuments in the City of Salisbury, London: HMSO, 1-24.
  7. Stone, J. F. S. and Charlton, J. 1935. Trial Excavations in the Esst Suburb of Old Sarum, Ant J, 15, 174-192.