The block numbering system for the SMR is based on the map tile e.g SU18SW, followed by a three number code based on the following period block system:-
| Palaeolithic | 001 - 049 |
| Mesolithic | 050 - 099 |
| Neolithic | 100 - 149 |
| Bronze Age | 150 - 199 |
| Iron Age | 200 - 299 |
| Romano-British | 300 - 399 |
| Early Medieval (Saxon) | 00 - 449 |
| Later Medieval (Medieval) | 450 - 449 |
| Up to AD 1600 | |
| Post Medieval | 525 - 549 |
| Undated / dubious | 550 - 599 |
| Undated field monuments but also Includes all round barrows | 600 - onwards |
Unlocated sites are given the prefix ‘U’ followed by a two digit code starting U01 and do have a national grid reference.
Many of the sites on the SMR, particularly in the south of the County, have not been the subject of a Scheduled Monument review and retain the old style numbers AM and 3 numbers.
A simple one or two word description of the site type, e.g. hillfort, or building.
In this field is recorded the national status of a site e.g.
This refers to the OS number for the site, which have bee adopted by the National Monuments Record.
The dates given are a guide only and are a matter of continuing debate among academic archaeologists.
| PA = Palaeolithic | 250000B - 8000BC |
| ME = Mesolithic | 8000BC - 4000BC |
| NE = Neolithic | 4000BC - 2500BC |
| BA = Bronze Age | 2500BC - 800BC |
| IA = Iron Age | 800BC - AD43 |
| RB = Romano British | AD43 - AD410 |
| EM = Early Medieval (Saxon) | AD410 - AD1066 |
| LM = Later Medieval | AD1066 - AD1600 |
| PM = Post Medieval | AD1600 - AD1800 |
| Recent | AD1900 - onwards |
NB: For the Beaker period BA is used.
This are statements on the condition and landuse of the site, followed by the date when this was known.
Any source with a prefix of A-S and followed by a series of numbers is an aerial photograph. The numbers will refer to the specific photograph in a run, while the prefix refers to the following groups of photographs:
| A | WCC 1971 (1:10560) Hi-levels |
| AER | WCC Archaeology Service (Oblique) |
| B | WCC 1972 - Low levels |
| C | Royal Air Force |
| D | RCHME: NMR EH |
| E | Cambridge University: CAP |
| F | Devizes Museum |
| G | WCC: Road schemes |
| H | Thamesdown (Swindon) Borough Council |
| I | Swindon Archaeological Society |
| J | United States Air Force |
| K | WCC 1981 (1:10,000) Hi-levels |
| L | WCC 1984 SPTA Clyde Survey |
| M | Esso Petroleum: 1983 Midline Project |
| N | WCC 1991 (1:10,000) Hi-levels |
| P | Ordnance Survey aerial survey |
| R | English Nature 1994: SPTA |
| S | WCC 2001 (1;10,000) Hi-levels - plus digital version on AutoCad |
The following list includes all the abbreviations and main sources used in this field.
ALM - The field notebooks of the County Archaeology Section.
| BM | BRITISH MUSEUM |
| DZSWS | DEVIZES MUSEUM (Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society) |
| DM | Accessions Register |
| DMDB | Day Book |
| Catalogues: | |
| DM CATI, 49 | Cunnington, W and Goddard, E.H. (eds) Catalogue of Antiquities in the museum at Devizes, part 1: The Stourhead Collection, Devizes: WA&NHS, 1986 |
| DM CAT2, 63 | Cunnington, M.E. and Goddard, E.H. (eds) Catalogue of antiquities in the museum at Devizes, part 2. Devizes: WA&NHS, 1911 |
| DM CAT3, 98 | Cunnington, M.E. and Goddard, E.G. (eds) Catalogue of antiquities in the museum at Devizes, part 2. 2nd edition Devizes: WA&NHS, 1934 |
| DM CAT 4, 106 | Annable, F.K. and Simpson, D.D.A. (eds) Guide catalogue of the Neolithic and Bronze Age Collections in Devizes Museum. Devizes WA&NHS 1964 |
| SBYWM | SALISBURY MUSEUM (Salisbury and South Wiltshire) |
| SMARG | Salisbury Museum Archaeological Research Group |
| SM ANN REP 1960/61, 52 | Annual Reports |
| SM CAT1, 53 | Some account of the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury, 2 parts. Devizes: WA&NHS no date (1868) |
| SM CAT2, 46 | Stevens, E.T. Flint chips: a guide to prehistoric archaeology as illustrated by the collection in the Blackmore Museum, Salisbury, London: Bell & Daldy, 1870. |
| SM CAT3, 75 | Moore, C.N. and Rowlands, M.J. Bronze age metal work in Salisbury Museum. Salisbury: S & SWM 1972. |
| BRSMG | Bristol City |
| WILTM | Wiltshire Library & Museums Service |
| SWIMG | Swindon |
| AVBAK | Alexander Keiller |
| CRDWH | Cricklade |
| OXFAS | Ashmolean |
| MANCH | Manchester |
| MARNH | Marlborough College Natural History Collection |
| KINAR | Kingston-on-Hull Archaeological |
| NEBY | Newbury District |
| MAMAM | Athelstan Malmesbury |
| AVBGB | Avebury Great Barn |
| CHITH | Yelde Hall Chippenham |
| LACAM | Lackham College of Agriculture |
| MEREM | Mere |
| SBYWS | Bishops Wordsworths School, Sal |
| WAMDM | Dewey Warminster |
| WAMWM | Weapons Warminster |
| WEUDC | Donne Collection Westbury |
| BRKCM | Phillips Countryside |
| WOOBM | Wootton Bassett |
| SBYRR | Royal Regiment Salisbury |
| TRWBM | Trowbridge |
| LACFT | Fox Talbot Lacock |
| WILFB | Fire Defence Collection Brigade HQ Service |
| PEWSM | Pewsey |
| BRAVM | Bradford-on-Avon |
| SEVTM | Sevington |
| DZSCC | Devizes Wharf Canal Centre |
| HIGWM | Highworth |
| WITWM | Wilton Windmill |
| MEKHS | Melksham Historical Collection |
| MEKAM | Avon Rubber Company |
| CHICF | Castle Farm Folk Marshfield Chippenham |
| MERCM | Mere Church |
| PURMS | Purton |
| ATWMS | Atworth |
| HOLTM | Holt |
| LUGSM | Ludgershall |
| WITMS | Wilton |
| LIBDM | Devizes Museum Library |
| VAM | Victoria & Albert |
| STKMG | Stone on Trent Museum and Art Gallery |
| LDMOL | London Museum |
| CHICC | Castle Combe |
| SWIMG | Swindon Museum |
| SAS | Swindon Archaeological Society |
| ANT J | Antiquaries’ Journal |
| ANTIQ | Antiquity |
| ARCH | Archaeologia |
| ARCH J | Archaeological Journal |
| ARCH REV | Archaeological Review (CBA Groups Xll & Xlll) |
| BRIT | Britannia |
| MED ARCH | Medieval Archaeology |
| P MED ARCH | Post-Medieval Archaeology |
| PPS | Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society |
| WAM | Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Magazine (vols 70-75 are entitled Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine until 2000 when it became Wiltshire Heritage Studies e.g Vol 93 onwards) |
| VCH | Victoria history of the counties of England: Wiltshire, 12 vols. London: Oxford University Press, 1953 - (in progress) |
| CRAWFORD | Crawford, O.G.S. and Keiller, A. Wessex from the Air. 1928 |
| GOVER | Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A. and Stenton, F.M. The Place-names of Wiltshire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939. |
| HOARE 1812 | Hoare, Sir R.C. The Ancient history of South Wiltshire. London: Miller, 1812 (Ancient Wiltshire vol 1) |
| HOARE 1821 | Hoare, Sir R.C. The Ancient History of South Wiltshire vol 2. London: 1921 (Ancient Wiltshire vol 2) |
| KING 1983 | King, D.J.C. Castellarium Angelicanum, 1983 Kraus International Publications |
| PEVSNER | Pevsner N. Wiltshire. 2nd ed rev by Cherry B. Harmondsworth: Penguin 1975 (The Buildings of England) |
Contact Details
Archaeology Service
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Cocklebury Road
Chippenham
SN15 3QN
Contact us by Email
Tel +44 (0)1249 705503
Fax +44 (0)1249 705527
