Priddy Circles

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The four Priddy Circles are henge monuments or "henge-like monuments" in the British Isles .

Priddy Circles

They are north of Wells , east of Priddy in Somerset in England on a plateau of the Mendip Hills . The three southern circles are about 80 m apart along an axis and have a diameter of 185 m. The northern Priddy circle is slightly smaller than the others, its center is offset from the axis of the others. Each of the henges has an outer moat. Its walls were originally crowned by palisades with very thin posts.

Research history

An excavation by the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society 1956-1959 was able to clarify the structure of the first circle, but brought no findings. Peter Ellis conducted archaeological surveys in the Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty of the Mendips from 1986 to 1988 . The districts are under monument protection . In the vicinity of the circles there are several depressions, some of which were interpreted as pinging , but they appear to be karst quarries .

Dating

Henges are usually associated with the Middle Neolithic Grooved Ware . However, Ellis points out that there is no evidence of the dating of the Priddy Circles, that their plan is unique in the British Isles, and that the shape of the ramparts is reminiscent of Bronze Age fortified individual courtyards.

interpretation

The geographer and popular science book author Rodney Castleden speculates that the northernmost circle was added later, like the unfinished northern stone circle at Avebury . Peter Ellis contemplates that an earthwork that has now disappeared could have separated the circles. Later became a Roman road from Charterhouse to Old Sarum . built between the southern and northern circles. The northern circle could also be an early Bronze Age "bowl barrow".

There are different theories as to why four "henges" were lined up. Castleden discusses that population growth may have required additional circles, but believes this is unlikely. He assumes that perhaps different deities were worshiped here separately or that each of the circles was used for different ceremonies. In a summary of the field surveys from 1986 to 1988, Peter Ellis considers that the three southern and northern circles could have belonged to different territories.

literature

  • Rodney Castleden: The Stonehenge People, an Exploration of Life in Neolithic Britain 4700-2000 BC. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1998 edition, pp. 132-133 (first edition 1987) ISBN 0-415-04065-5 .
  • Peter Ellis: Mendip Hills. An Archaeological Survey of the Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects, 1992. [3]
  • WI Stanton, Natural Sink Holes affecting the Priddy Circles, Mendip. Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society 17, 1986, 355-358
  • Edgar Kingsley Tratman: The Priddy Circles, Mendip, Somerset, Henge Monuments. Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society 11/1, 1967, pp. 97-125.

Web links

Pastscape, English

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Peter Ellis: Mendip Hills. An Archaeological Survey of the Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects / English Heritage 1992 [1]
  2. ↑ Peter Ellis: Mendip Hills. An Archaeological Survey of the Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects, 1992, p. 17
  3. ↑ Scheduled Ancient Monument
  4. ^ WI Stanton, Natural Sink Holes Affecting the Priddy Circles, Mendip. Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society 17, 1986, 355-358
  5. ↑ Peter Ellis: Mendip Hills. An Archaeological Survey of the Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects / English Heritage 1992, 14 [2]
  6. ^ Rodney Castleden: The Stonehenge People, an Exploration of Life in Neolithic Britain 4700-2000 BC. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1990 edition, pp. 132-133 (first edition 1987) ISBN 0-415-04065-5 .
  7. ↑ Peter Ellis: Mendip Hills. An Archaeological Survey of the Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects, 1992, p. 14
  8. ↑ http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=197570&sort=4&search=all&criteria=priddy%20circles&rational=q&recordsperpage=10
  9. ↑ "Possibly there were several deities who were Honored separately ..." Rodney Castleden: The Stonehenge People 1998 S. 133
  10. ^ Rodney Castleden: The Stonehenge People, London 1998, p. 133
  11. ↑ Peter Ellis: Mendip Hills. An Archaeological Survey of the Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty. Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects, 1992, p. 16

Coordinates: 51 ° 16 ′ 20.9 "  N , 2 ° 39 ′ 38.7"  W.