Whitton Hill 2 (Milfield)
This area is known as Whitton Hill Site 2. Aerial photographs in this area show cropmarks which are all that remains of several circular enclosures. Archaeologists found central burial pits surrounded by a circular ditch. At least 26 people were buried here in the late prehistoric period. The enclosure is probably a Bronze Age barrow. (1-7)
[NT 9325 3452] A prehistoric ring ditch near Whitton Hill which was initially observed as a cropmark. It is part of the Whitton Hill group of ring ditches (see HER 34273). (8a)
Excavation in 1982 by R. Miket uncovered a penannular ring ditch with a large causeway on the southern side. The ditch cut through an irregular patch of charcoal-stained soil that provided a radiocarbon date of 2870+/-80 bc (uncalibrated). Charcoal from the ditch produced dates of 1650+/-45 bc (uncalibrated) and 820+/-70 bc (uncalibrated). Three small pits were found outside the causeway, flanking the approach to the enclosure. One contained a cremation which produced a date of 910+/-90 bc (uncalibrated). A pit at the centre of the enclosed area contained the cremated remains of at least 23 individuals. Charcoal fragments near the top of the cremation deposits produced a date of 930+/-310 bc (uncalibrated). This central pit was cut by another which featured three upright stones and some burnt bone among its fill. A shallow pit was found outside the ditch at the northern end of the site, directly opposite the causeway. Finally, a series of shallow pits in the southern half of the interior seem to represent remains of an inner circle of pits which may have held timber posts or stone uprights. The late dates provided by some of the charcoal samples caused the excavator some problems. Miket's favoured sequence saw a shallow penannular ditch with outer and possibly inner bank, flanking post pits outside the causeway, a post in the pit at the rear of the enclosure, and an inner circle of stone uprights as broadly contemporary features. The central burial deposit followed by the raising of a slight mound was also seen as following on soon after monument construction, although the radiocarbon dates suggest that this may have occurred much later, its position being determined by pre-existing features. Iron Age and/or Roman potsherds were also found. (8b-c)
The grid reference recorded here is based on an aerial photograph of the excavation in progress (8d). Miket's published location plan (8b) is inadequate and his grid reference (8c) is clearly wrong.
For further aerial photograph references, see this record's parent record. (HER 34273)
In his gazetteer of henges and related sites, Harding classifies this as a causewayed barrow. (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 2045 (Whitton Hill 1) and HER 34273 (prehistoric ring ditches). (8)
[NT 9325 3452] A prehistoric ring ditch near Whitton Hill which was initially observed as a cropmark. It is part of the Whitton Hill group of ring ditches (see HER 34273). (8a)
Excavation in 1982 by R. Miket uncovered a penannular ring ditch with a large causeway on the southern side. The ditch cut through an irregular patch of charcoal-stained soil that provided a radiocarbon date of 2870+/-80 bc (uncalibrated). Charcoal from the ditch produced dates of 1650+/-45 bc (uncalibrated) and 820+/-70 bc (uncalibrated). Three small pits were found outside the causeway, flanking the approach to the enclosure. One contained a cremation which produced a date of 910+/-90 bc (uncalibrated). A pit at the centre of the enclosed area contained the cremated remains of at least 23 individuals. Charcoal fragments near the top of the cremation deposits produced a date of 930+/-310 bc (uncalibrated). This central pit was cut by another which featured three upright stones and some burnt bone among its fill. A shallow pit was found outside the ditch at the northern end of the site, directly opposite the causeway. Finally, a series of shallow pits in the southern half of the interior seem to represent remains of an inner circle of pits which may have held timber posts or stone uprights. The late dates provided by some of the charcoal samples caused the excavator some problems. Miket's favoured sequence saw a shallow penannular ditch with outer and possibly inner bank, flanking post pits outside the causeway, a post in the pit at the rear of the enclosure, and an inner circle of stone uprights as broadly contemporary features. The central burial deposit followed by the raising of a slight mound was also seen as following on soon after monument construction, although the radiocarbon dates suggest that this may have occurred much later, its position being determined by pre-existing features. Iron Age and/or Roman potsherds were also found. (8b-c)
The grid reference recorded here is based on an aerial photograph of the excavation in progress (8d). Miket's published location plan (8b) is inadequate and his grid reference (8c) is clearly wrong.
For further aerial photograph references, see this record's parent record. (HER 34273)
In his gazetteer of henges and related sites, Harding classifies this as a causewayed barrow. (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 2045 (Whitton Hill 1) and HER 34273 (prehistoric ring ditches). (8)
N2046
EXCAVATION, WHITTON HILL (SITE 2) 1983; MIKET, R
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