Stonehenge Cursus — South Avenue Bank & Ditch
Cursus South Ave
Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE)·Neolithic / Woodland·🇬🇧 England, Wiltshire, Salisbury Plain, United Kingdom
About
About Stonehenge Cursus — South Avenue Bank & Ditch
Stonehenge Cursus — South Avenue Bank & Ditch in England, Wiltshire, Salisbury Plain, United Kingdom is a Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE) earthwork attributed to Neolithic / Woodland. Systematic survey and coring document stratified deposits. The site includes a principal platform and workshop area. Dimensions 249m × 28m; area 19.6 ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition preserved. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Neolithic / Woodland earthwork with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 100 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Relation to regional network
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Ritual landscape model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2500 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic to Mississippian (3000 BCE–1400 CE)
- Culture
- Neolithic / Woodland
- Builders
- Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial earthwork with astronomical alignment
- Rediscovered
- 2014
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1017 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1950
Modern rediscovery and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
51.1800° N · 1.8200° W · 100 m · 3 mapped features
Principal Monument
structurePrincipal Monument at Stonehenge Cursus — South Avenue Bank & Ditch — structure with stratified deposits
51.1788° N · 1.8219° WAncillary Complex
complexAncillary Complex at Stonehenge Cursus — South Avenue Bank & Ditch — complex with stratified deposits
51.1785° N · 1.8219° WOutlier Feature
outlierOutlier Feature at Stonehenge Cursus — South Avenue Bank & Ditch — outlier with stratified deposits
51.1802° N · 1.8187° W