Prehistoric enclosures 3/4 mile (1200m) E of Norton Church

Summary

Cursus and enclosures located 1200m east of The Church of St Egwin, Norton.

Reasons for Designation

Cursus monuments have been interpreted in various ways since their initial identification. The name itself is the Latin term for race track and this was one of the functions suggested by Stukeley in the 18th century. More recently a ritual or ceremonial role has been suggested. Of the 40 or so examples recorded nationally, most are widely scattered across central and eastern England, though the distribution extends to northern counties. The majority lie on the flat, well drained gravel terraces of major river valleys, but a number are known on the chalk downlands of Dorset and Wiltshire. As one of the few known classes of Neolithic monument, and due to their comparative rarity, their considerable age and their longevity as a monument type, all cursus monuments are considered to be nationally important. Despite ploughing and the insertion of the Evesham and Redditch Railway, the cursus and enclosures 1200m east of the Church of St Egwin survive comparatively well. The archaeological remains survive exclusively as buried features or remains and will contain layers and deposits with important archaeological information relating to the use, construction and occupation of the monument in addition to providing environmental evidence.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 21 May 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records. As such they do not yet have the full descriptions of their modernised counterparts available. Please contact us if you would like further information.

This monument includes a cursus and prehistoric settlement situated on a south facing terrace overlooking the River Avon. The monument is known from cropmarks visible on aerial photographs and survives as a cursus enclosure, enclosures, pits and a ring ditch. The cursus is orientated north east to south west with an elliptical north eastern end. South of the cursus are smaller enclosures, pits and a ring ditch representing the site of a barrow.

Further archaeological remains survive in the vicinity of the monument, but are not currently protected because they have not been formally assessed.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

WT 295

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
Pastscape Monument Nos:- 328275, 328294, 328274 & 1362040

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