Whitton Hill Henge (site 1) (Milfield)
This area is known as Whitton Hill Site 1. Aerial photographs in this area show cropmarks which are all that remains of several circular enclosures. One of these enclosures was excavated by archaeologists. The archaeologists found a circular ditch with a ring of smaller pits and two central pits. One contained the cremated remains of a child in an urn. The henge is late prehistoric and the burial is Neolithic. (1-7)
[NT 9332 3458] A sub circular henge-like enclosure identified as a cropmark in the vicinity of Whitton Hill. (8a)
Excavations in 1982 showed that the ditch was crossed by four causeways. Within the enclosed area was a ring of pits, some of which appear to have held timber posts. The ditch contained a layer of whinstone and sandstone blocks set along its centre. Charcoal was found along its inner edge as were the remains of five charred timbers apparently in situ and sloping out from the ditch towards the centre of the enclosure. Together, the stone and charcoal is regarded as the base of a timber structure, the site perhaps having been a building of some kind. Two pits, intepreted as post-pits, stood just inside the northwest causeway, but similar features were not observed at the other causewayes. Cremation deposits were found in the ditch and in the vicinity of the internal pits. A large circular pit was found within the inner pit circle. It contained a cremation below an inverted urn which was compared to Peterborough Ware. Grooved Ware sherds were found in the upper fills. Further Peterborough-type and Grooved Ware sherds were found in other contexts. A few flints, including a scraper, a fabricator and a knife, were also found. (8b-c)
An aerial photograph shows the excavation in progress. (8d)
For other aerial photograph references, see this record's parent record (HOBUID 1197399)
In his gazetteer of henges and related sites, Harding classifies this as a mini henge. (8e)
The site has been mapped from the air as part of the Milfield Geoarchaeology Project. (See archive object MD000295). (8)
General association with HER 2046 (Whitton Hill 2) and HER 34273 (ring ditches). (8)
[NT 9332 3458] A sub circular henge-like enclosure identified as a cropmark in the vicinity of Whitton Hill. (8a)
Excavations in 1982 showed that the ditch was crossed by four causeways. Within the enclosed area was a ring of pits, some of which appear to have held timber posts. The ditch contained a layer of whinstone and sandstone blocks set along its centre. Charcoal was found along its inner edge as were the remains of five charred timbers apparently in situ and sloping out from the ditch towards the centre of the enclosure. Together, the stone and charcoal is regarded as the base of a timber structure, the site perhaps having been a building of some kind. Two pits, intepreted as post-pits, stood just inside the northwest causeway, but similar features were not observed at the other causewayes. Cremation deposits were found in the ditch and in the vicinity of the internal pits. A large circular pit was found within the inner pit circle. It contained a cremation below an inverted urn which was compared to Peterborough Ware. Grooved Ware sherds were found in the upper fills. Further Peterborough-type and Grooved Ware sherds were found in other contexts. A few flints, including a scraper, a fabricator and a knife, were also found. (8b-c)
An aerial photograph shows the excavation in progress. (8d)
For other aerial photograph references, see this record's parent record (HOBUID 1197399)
In his gazetteer of henges and related sites, Harding classifies this as a mini henge. (8e)
The site has been mapped from the air as part of the Milfield Geoarchaeology Project. (See archive object MD000295). (8)
General association with HER 2046 (Whitton Hill 2) and HER 34273 (ring ditches). (8)
N2045
EXCAVATION, WHITTON HILL (SITE 1) 1983; MIKET, R
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