Gaffney, Vincent and Baldwin, Eamonn and Bates, Martin and Bates, C. Richard and Gaffney, Christopher and Hamilton, Derek and Kinnaird, Tim and Neubauer, Wolfgang and Yorston, Ronald and Allaby, Robin and Chapman, Henry and Garwood, Paul and Löcker, Klaus and Hinterleitner, Alois and Sparrow, Tom and Trinks, Immo and Wallner, Mario and Leivers, Matthew (2020) A Massive, Late Neolithic Pit Structure associated with Durrington Walls Henge. Internet Archaeology, 55 (4). ISSN 1363-5387
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
A series of massive geophysical anomalies, located south of the Durrington Walls henge monument, were identified during fluxgate gradiometer survey undertaken by the Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project (SHLP). Initially interpreted as dewponds, these data have been re-evaluated, along with information on similar features revealed by archaeological contractors undertaking survey and excavation to the north of the Durrington Walls henge. Analysis of the available data identified a total of 20 comparable features, which align within a series of arcs adjacent to Durrington Walls. Further geophysical survey, supported by mechanical coring, was undertaken on several geophysical anomalies to assess their nature, and to provide dating and environmental evidence. The results of fieldwork demonstrate that some of these features, at least, were massive, circular pits with a surface diameter of 20m or more and a depth of at least 5m. Struck flint and bone were recovered from primary silts and radiocarbon dating indicates a Late Neolithic date for the lower silts of one pit. The degree of similarity across the 20 features identified suggests that they could have formed part of a circuit of large pits around Durrington Walls, and this may also have incorporated the recently discovered Larkhill causewayed enclosure. The diameter of the circuit of pits exceeds 2km and there is some evidence that an intermittent, inner post alignment may have existed within the circuit of pits. One pit may provide evidence for a recut; suggesting that some of these features could have been maintained through to the Middle Bronze Age. Together, these features represent a unique group of features related to the henge at Durrington Walls, executed at a scale not previously recorded.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | ** From Crossref journal articles via Jisc Publications Router ** History: epub 20-06-2020; issued 20-06-2020. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Archaeology |
| Subjects: | C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D051 Ancient History D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain |
| SWORD Depositor: | JISC Publications Router |
| Depositing User: | JISC Publications Router |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Nov 2022 15:25 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Nov 2023 11:51 |
| URI: | https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/2140 |
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