Reasons for Designation
The most complete and extensive survival of chalk downland archaeological
remains in central southern England occurs on Salisbury Plain. These remains
represent one of the few extant archaeological `landscapes' in Britain and are
considered to be of special significance because they differ in character from
those other areas with comparable levels of preservation. Individual sites on
Salisbury Plain are seen as being additionally important because the evidence
of their direct association with each other survives so well. Lynchets provide
distinctive traces of medieval and earlier agricultural activities in downland
areas, indicating the level of intensity of land use and farming practices
through time.
The four lynchets on Southmill Hill survive well and are a prominent landscape
feature on the periphery of the town of Amesbury. In addition, they will
contain archaeological deposits providing evidence for the economy and
environment during the medieval period.
Details
The monument includes a flight of four strip lynchets lying across the north
west facing slope of Southmill Hill, immediately north east of the A345
Salisbury to Amesbury road. The lynchets are medieval in date and are the
result of deliberate terracing of the steep hillslope for cultivation.
They survive as wide terraces up to 15m wide cut into the slope and separated
by steep sections of bank which range in height from 2m to 5.5m. The
northernmost lynchet survives to the greater height, declining gradually to
the southernmost lynchet which is the lowest in height. The remains of a
further lynchet to the south east of the monument have been levelled by
cultivation and are not included within the scheduling.
All fence posts and cattle troughs are excluded from the scheduling although
the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28941
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
