Roman BritainRomano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down
Roman Settlement · Civilian

Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down

Roman Britain
Pleiades ID: nhle-13381
Site type
Settlement
Category
Civilian
Latitude
51.1808
Longitude
-1.8736
Overview

History & context

The Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down was a small rural civilian site situated on the chalk downland of southern Wiltshire, a few kilometres west of Stonehenge. Likely active from the 1st through 4th centuries AD, it appears to have functioned as a modest agricultural settlement, probably a farmstead or small nucleated community engaged in mixed arable and pastoral farming typical of the Salisbury Plain downs.

Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →

Significance

Historical significance

The site forms part of the dense pattern of native-tradition Romano-British farms exploiting the chalk uplands around Stonehenge, contributing to the agricultural surplus that supported nearby small towns such as Old Sarum (Sorviodunum) and the wider provincial economy.

Archaeology

Archaeological record

Earthwork and aerial survey on Winterbourne Stoke Down have recorded enclosures, hut platforms, and associated "Celtic" field systems, with surface finds of Romano-British pottery indicating occupation, though no large-scale modern excavation has been published for this specific settlement.

About this site

Questions & answers

What is Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down?

The Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down was a small rural civilian site situated on the chalk downland of southern Wiltshire, a few kilometres west of Stonehenge. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a settlement site from the Roman period in Britain.

What type of Roman site is Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down?

Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down is classified as a Roman settlement — a civilian site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.

What other Roman sites are near Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down?

Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Orcheston Down Romano-British landscape (5.9 km), Netheravon (8.3 km), Compton Farm Romano-British and Early Medieval occupation sites and associated cultivation earthworks (10.2 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.

How can I research the history of the area around Romano-British settlement on Winterbourne Stoke Down?

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