Reasons for Designation
The Priddy Circles are considered to be henge monuments, but have unique
characteristics which distinguish them from other henges. Excavation of the
southern circle has provided evidence of the excellent preservation of
features relating to the construction of the circles.
Henges are ritual or ceremonial centres which date to the Late Neolithic
period (2800-2000 BC). They were constructed as roughly circular or oval
shaped enclosures comprising a flat area over 20m in diameter enclosed by a
ditch and external bank. The ditches of the Priddy Circles are external, each
enclosing an area 180m-200m in diameter. One, two or four entrances provided
access to the interior of the henges, which may have contained a variety of
features including timber or stone circles, post or stone alignments, pits,
burials or central mounds. The entrances to the Priddy Circles appear to have
an opposed NNE-SSW orientation. Finds from the ditches and interiors of
henges provide important evidence for the chronological development of the
sites, the types of activity that occurred within them and the nature of the
environment in which they were constructed. Henges occur throughout England
with the exception of south eastern counties and the Welsh Marches. Unlike
most henges, which are situated on low ground often close to springs and
water-courses, the Priddy Circles have an upland location with no fresh water
supply apart from ponds.
Details
The monument includes three circular earthworks comprising part of the Priddy
Circles and one possible barrow, on the Mendip Hills in Somerset. The
circles are regarded as Neolithic ritual monuments similar to the henge class
of monuments, but having external ditches.
The three circles are arranged equidistantly on a NNE-SSW axis. A fourth
circle lies some 800m to the NNE, and is the subject of a separate scheduling.
The circles were subject to subsidence which may have contributed to their
abandonment. The southern circle is 190m-194m in diameter, with an external
ditch up to 6m wide and 1.2m deep. The internal bank is up to 7m wide and 1m-
2m high, surrounding a slightly raised interior. Of five gaps in the circuit,
the NNE one was proved by excavation to be a causewayed entrance, between
timber revetted banks.
The central circle is 185m in diameter. The external ditch is slight to the
south, but up to 0.5m deep to the north. The bank is 4m-6m wide and stands up
to 1m high to the north. The interior is raised slightly above ground level.
There are three gaps in the circuit, and one area to the east of major
geological disturbance. There is a possible ovoid barrow in the north east
quadrant, 14m north-south by 9m east-west, and 0.4m in height.
The northern circle of the three is 180m-190m in diameter, the external ditch
is well preserved to the south, up to 1m deep and 5m wide, with the bank
standing up to 1m above ground level, and up to 7m wide. There are four gaps
in the circuit, a possible entrance to the SSW opposing the NNE entrance of
the central circle. An excavation in 1956-9 in the southern circle showed the
structure of the bank, proved the existence of a causewayed entrance, but
failed to find any evidence for use of the interior.
A geophysical survey in 1994 investigated part of the southern and central
circles, confirming the expected location of ditch and bank. The survey also
investigated the area between this monument and the fourth circle to the north
but no archaeological features were revealed.
Excluded from the scheduling are all walls and fences, though the ground
beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
29037
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
