Causewayed enclosure 175m west of Wheler Lodge Farm

Reasons for Designation

Between 50 and 70 causewayed enclosures are recorded nationally, mainly in southern and eastern England. They were constructed over a period of some 500 years during the middle part of the Neolithic period (c.3000-2400 BC) but also continued in use into later periods. They vary considerably in size (from 2 to 70 acres) and were apparently used for a variety of functions, including settlement, defence, and ceremonial and funerary purposes. However, all comprise a roughly circular to ovoid area bounded by one or more concentric rings of banks and ditches. The ditches, from which the monument class derives its name, were formed of a series of elongated pits punctuated by unexcavated causeways. Causewayed enclosures are amongst the earliest field monuments to survive as recognisable features in the modern landscape and are one of the few known Neolithic monument types. Due to their rarity, their wide diversity of plan, and their considerable age, all causewayed enclosures are considered to be nationally important.

The causewayed enclosure 175m west of Wheler Lodge Farm survives well as a buried feature, and will preserve archaeological deposits relating to its construction and use. Causewayed enclosures are relatively rare nationally, with only a few examples known within this region. The survival of structural elements of the causewayed enclosure and its associated features will provide further information about the use of the monument and the method of its construction. Several periods of use, neglect and repair of have been indicated, giving us insight into the changing focus of the monument over time. Artefactual evidence, including pottery fragments and flint tools, provide dating evidence and information about the technologies available to the people who constructed and occupied it. In addition, it is expected that environmental deposits survive; these may provide information about the use of monument and about its contemporary surrounding natural environment.

Details

The monument includes the buried remains of a prehistoric causewayed enclosure and its associated features, located upon land west of Wheler Lodge Farm. The monument lies mostly on a gentle south west facing slope bordered by a stream to the north west. The underlying geology consists of glacial sands and gravels. Geophysical survey and partial excavations, undertaken in advance of gravel extraction in 1998, located a large causewayed enclosure, including two roughly circular, concentric interrupted ditches. The ditches lie within 30m of each other and enclose an area of 1.5ha, with a minimum internal diameter of 130m. The excavation also confirmed the presence of surviving associated structural remains, including pits and other smaller ditches cut into the natural sand and gravel lying both inside the enclosed area and immediately outside the outer ditch. The excavations demonstrated that the majority of the features dated to the Neolithic period, although there were also some indications of later prehistoric activity. Field walking in the area in advance of development also located concentrations of flint material, suggesting activity during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. The archaeological remains survive below a thin layer of topsoil at a depth of 0.30m. Excavations confirmed that the outer ditch survives to a depth of over 1.20m. In profile it has steep sloping edges leading to almost vertical lower sides. The ditch is broken into irregular sided, curving segments terminating in blunt endings between causeways. A concentration of larger pebbles immediately to the interior of the outer ditch to the south was interpreted as an internal bank, and a line of post holes which appeared to be following the outer ditch is thought to be a timber revetment to the bank to provide stability. The excavations also revealed episodes of deliberate infilling, as well as natural silting of the ditch followed by later recutting. Finds from the fill of the ditch included several flint artefacts and charcoal, as well as fragments of Ebbsfleet Ware pottery, which securely date the final use of the ditch to the late Neolithic period. A number of other archaeological features were identified outside the enclosure. These included a small circular pit with steep sides and a flat, slightly sloping base, which contained a large amount of charcoal, but no firm dating evidence. The pit is included in the scheduling.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

30089

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
excavation report, Thomas, John , Archaeological Evaluation, Wheler Lodge Farm, Husbands Bosworth, (1999)
desk based & field walking, Liddle, Peter , Archaeological assessment Wheler Lodge Farm, Husbands Bosworth, (1997)

End of official list entry

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