Priddy Circles
Encyclopedia
Priddy Circles are a linear arrangement of four circular earthwork enclosures
near the village of Priddy
on the Mendip Hills
in Somerset
, England. The circles have been listed as Scheduled Ancient Monument
s, and described as 'probable Neolithic ritual or ceremonial monuments similar to a henge'.
which runs between Charterhouse
and Old Sarum
.
The four circles each consist of a flat circular area surrounded by a bank and external ditch enclosure with more than one entrance. Excavations carried out between 1956 and 1959 by members of the University of Bristol Spelæological Society
showed that the banks had stone cores with post and stake holes on either side. Geophysical surveys
in 1995 and a magnetometer
survey in 2006 are exploring further the make up of the circles.
The circles are numbered in sequence 1 to 4, with number 1 being the most southerly of the group. Circle 1 is 194 m (636.5 ft) in diameter, with a surviving ditch up to 6 m (19.7 ft) wide and 1.2 m (3.9 ft) deep. It has several gaps, but the one to the north-north-east was a causewayed entrance feature. Circle 2 is 185 m (607 ft) in diameter, with a bank up to 6 m wide and 1 m (3.3 ft) high, and the ditch is up to 0.5 m (1.6 ft) deep. There are three gaps are present in this earthwork, and the one to the north-north-east is possibly an original feature. Within circle 2 is a possible ovoid barrow mound measuring 14 by, and 0.4 m (1.3 ft) high. Circle 3 is up to 190 m (623.4 ft) across, with a bank up to 1 m high and 7 m (23 ft) wide, and ditch up to 1 m deep and 5 m (16.4 ft) wide. There are four gaps in this circle, the one to the south-south-west is considered an original entrance feature because it directly faces the north-north-west entrance of circle 2. Circle 4 has a diameter of up to 190 m but only two-thirds of the earthwork is present. Boreholes made in the 1950s suggested that the missing western section was never finished, possibly due to subsidence in the area. Associated with circle 4 is a group of mounds interpreted as barrows, one outside the circle to the west, and possibly four inside.
In June 2011, it was reported that English Heritage
was investigating damage to the site, and during July 2011 photographs were published that appear to show significant damage to a section of the southernmost circle.
but this interpretation is somewhat speculative due to the presence of external rather than internal ditches, a feature which makes them unique in Britain.
Although no dating evidence has been found, they appear to be contemporary with Stonehenge
, i.e. Neolithic
circa 2500 BC - 2180 BC. Two round barrow
cemeteries, Ashen Hill and Priddy Nine-Barrows, located less than 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) south of the Circles, would seem to imply that the area to the northeast of Priddy held ritual significance into the Bronze Age
.
Enclosure (archaeology)
In archaeology, an enclosure is one of the most common types of archaeological site. It is any area of land separated from surrounding land by earthworks, walls or fencing. Such a simple feature is found all over the world and during almost all archaeological periods...
near the village of Priddy
Priddy
Priddy is a village in Somerset, England in the Mendip Hills, close to East Harptree and north-west of Wells. It is in the local government district of Mendip....
on the Mendip Hills
Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills is a range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon Valley to the north...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. The circles have been listed as Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
s, and described as 'probable Neolithic ritual or ceremonial monuments similar to a henge'.
Description
The enclosures range in diameter from 185 metre. Three of the circles are closely spaced in a nearly straight line, while the fourth is 350 m (1,148.3 ft) to the north and somewhat out of line with the other three. The total arrangement is spread over roughly 1.2 kilometre (0.745647283979768 mi). There is no missing enclosure in the gap between the northernmost enclosure and the others. This gap is bisected by the B3135 road and the course of the Roman roadRoman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
which runs between Charterhouse
Charterhouse, Somerset
Charterhouse, also known as Charterhouse-on-Mendip, is a hamlet in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the English county of Somerset...
and Old Sarum
Old Sarum
Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, in England. The site contains evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. Old Sarum is mentioned in some of the earliest records in the country...
.
The four circles each consist of a flat circular area surrounded by a bank and external ditch enclosure with more than one entrance. Excavations carried out between 1956 and 1959 by members of the University of Bristol Spelæological Society
University of Bristol Spelæological Society
The University of Bristol Spelæological Society was founded in 1919 by cavers in the University of Bristol. Among its earliest activities was the archaeological excavation of Aveline's Hole....
showed that the banks had stone cores with post and stake holes on either side. Geophysical surveys
Archaeological geophysics
Geophysical survey in archaeology most often refers to ground-based physical sensing techniques used for archaeological imaging or mapping. Remote sensing and marine surveys are also used in archaeology, but are generally considered separate disciplines...
in 1995 and a magnetometer
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of a magnetic field either produced in the laboratory or existing in nature...
survey in 2006 are exploring further the make up of the circles.
The circles are numbered in sequence 1 to 4, with number 1 being the most southerly of the group. Circle 1 is 194 m (636.5 ft) in diameter, with a surviving ditch up to 6 m (19.7 ft) wide and 1.2 m (3.9 ft) deep. It has several gaps, but the one to the north-north-east was a causewayed entrance feature. Circle 2 is 185 m (607 ft) in diameter, with a bank up to 6 m wide and 1 m (3.3 ft) high, and the ditch is up to 0.5 m (1.6 ft) deep. There are three gaps are present in this earthwork, and the one to the north-north-east is possibly an original feature. Within circle 2 is a possible ovoid barrow mound measuring 14 by, and 0.4 m (1.3 ft) high. Circle 3 is up to 190 m (623.4 ft) across, with a bank up to 1 m high and 7 m (23 ft) wide, and ditch up to 1 m deep and 5 m (16.4 ft) wide. There are four gaps in this circle, the one to the south-south-west is considered an original entrance feature because it directly faces the north-north-west entrance of circle 2. Circle 4 has a diameter of up to 190 m but only two-thirds of the earthwork is present. Boreholes made in the 1950s suggested that the missing western section was never finished, possibly due to subsidence in the area. Associated with circle 4 is a group of mounds interpreted as barrows, one outside the circle to the west, and possibly four inside.
In June 2011, it was reported that English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
was investigating damage to the site, and during July 2011 photographs were published that appear to show significant damage to a section of the southernmost circle.
Interpretation
They are probably Neolithic ritual or ceremonial monuments similar to a hengeHenge
There are three related types of Neolithic earthwork which are all sometimes loosely called henges. The essential characteristic of all three types is that they feature a ring bank and ditch but with the ditch inside the bank rather than outside...
but this interpretation is somewhat speculative due to the presence of external rather than internal ditches, a feature which makes them unique in Britain.
Although no dating evidence has been found, they appear to be contemporary with Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
, i.e. Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
circa 2500 BC - 2180 BC. Two round barrow
Round barrow
Round barrows are one of the most common types of archaeological monuments. Although concentrated in Europe they are found in many parts of the world because of their simple construction and universal purpose....
cemeteries, Ashen Hill and Priddy Nine-Barrows, located less than 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) south of the Circles, would seem to imply that the area to the northeast of Priddy held ritual significance into the Bronze Age
Bronze Age Britain
Bronze Age Britain refers to the period of British history that spanned from c. 2,500 until c. 800 BC. Lasting for approximately 1700 years, it was preceded by the era of Neolithic Britain and was in turn followed by the era of Iron Age Britain...
.