Monument MPM1213 - Pit, Portsdown Peak excavation

Pit containing post holes and Romano-British pottery and iron work, recorded during an excavation on Portsdown Hill in 1979. Possibly relates to a Roman look-out post or signalling station.

Excavations by the South Hampshire Archaeological Rescue Group in 1979 revealed a pit which contained a number of post holes and finds ranging in date from the Bronze Age to 20th Century.

The pit was circular with a flat bottom, and measured 4m in diameter at the top, 2m in diameter at the bottom and was 1.2m deep. It had been cut partly into chalk 0.25m below the topsoil, and partly into a deep pocket of clay with flints.

Six post holes had been cut into the sides near the bottom of the pit. These ranged between 1.05m and 1.2m in depth, with an average diameter of 0.45m. The post holes had been arranged in a square, which measured 2.1m between the centres of the four corner holes, with the two remaining holes positioned in the middle of an opposing pair of sides. The shapes and sizes of the post holes varied considerably.

At least five further post holes had been cut into the sides near the top of the pit. These ranged between 0.6m and 0.8m in depth, with an average diameter of 0.3m. The post holes were arranged opposite the gaps between the six post holes located towards the bottom of the pit (see above). Due to difficulties defining clay filled features in the clay subsoil, it was not possible to determine if there was a third group of post holes located further towards the top of the pit.

Unstratified material ranging in date from the Bronze Age to the 20th Century was recovered from the upper fill of the pit. The fill from the lower half of the pit contained Romano-British material which had been sealed within the post holes. The finds from the lower fill included; 3rd and 4th Century coarse ware; iron nails; half a horse shoe; two hollow cones (possible candle holders); part of a knife blade. A bronze coin from the reign of Constantine the Great (312-337) was recovered from topsoil 6m from the edge of the pit.

It was not possible to identify the exact function of the site from the evidence available. However, due to its close proximity to the Roman fort at Porthester, and the fact that the site overlooks the sea on its south side, and a view up to 25 miles inland on the north, its use as a Roman look-out post or signalling station was suggested.

Hampshire County Council, 1980, Archaeology in Hampshire Annual Report for 1979 (Bibliographic reference). SPM188.