Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

The Egg
Hob Uid: 219041
Location : Wiltshire Durrington
Grid Ref : SU1505043200
Summary : An enclosure of probable Middle Bronze Age date located about 350m south of Woodhenge (SU 14 SE 6). The enclosure has been completely levelled by ploughing. Cropmarks visible on air photographs show an egg-shaped ditched enclosure circa 23 metres maximum diameter with an entrance gap 6 metres wide on the south east. From the west side of the entrance the ditch continues south south east for circa 24 metres as a linear feature, eventually joining another linear ditch which runs roughly east-west. Excavations in the enclosure in the late 1920s by Cunnington encountered a number of pits and post holes in the interior, as well as some post holes at intervals along the ditch, suggesting the presence of a possible palisade. One of the pits in the interior contained charred barley grains. Pottery recovered from the site is generally of Deverel-Rimbury type, suggesting a date in the Middle Bronze Age.
More information : (SU 15064322) A symmetrical egg-shaped enclosure excavated by Cunnington in 1926 to 1928. The enclosure contained animal bones, mostly sheep, sherds of Romano-British and early Iron Age pottery and post-holes. The extension ditch contained post-holes suggestive of a stockade all round the enclosure. There can be little doubt that the enclosure and ditches date from the Iron Age and were connected with a village. (1) Comparisons of the pottery from Mrs Cunnington's egg-shaped enclosure with that from Boscombe Down East (SU 23 SW 2) and Thorny Down (SU 23 SW 13) leave no doubt that the enclosure is of the Deverel-Rimbury period. (2) No trace of this enclosure is to be seen on the ground. Sited to SU 15064322 from 1:3750 plan in "Woodhenge" Pl 2. (3) A small, egg-shaped enclosure, 80' by 75' with an entrance 20' wide one side of which was joined to a linear earthwork by means of a ditch. A concentration of 25 post holes towards the centre possibly represents a circular house about 20' in diameter and other structures or fences. (4) Other references (5-8) The enclosure was mapped from aerial photographs by both RCHME's Salisbury Plain Training Area NMP and EH's Stonehenge WHS Mapping Project. (9)

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Source details : F1 NVQ 01-OCT-69
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Source details : Piggott, S
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Source details : Record number 1082, 1084
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : NMR SU 1543/167-169 (1474/16-17, 19) 1976
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Middle Bronze Age
Display Date : Middle Bronze Age
Monument End Date : -1200
Monument Start Date : -1600
Monument Type : Oval Enclosure, Linear Feature, Palisade, Post Hole, Pit
Evidence : Cropmark, Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find

Components and Objects:

Period : Middle Bronze Age
Component Monument Type : Oval Enclosure, Linear Feature, Palisade, Post Hole, Pit
Object Type : VESSEL, ANIMAL REMAINS
Object Material : Pottery

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : VESSEL
Object Material : Pottery

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Wiltshire)
External Cross Reference Number : SU14SE150
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 10365
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 14 SE 3
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1926-01-01
End Date : 1928-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1969-10-01
End Date : 1969-10-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 1994-12-01
End Date : 1995-08-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2001-02-01
End Date : 2001-07-01

Historic England Research Records

The Egg