Hodson Stone Circle

Last updated

Hodson Stone Circle was a stone circle in the village of Hodson in the south-western English county of Wiltshire. The ring was part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although some archaeologists speculate that the stones represented supernatural entities for the circle's builders.

Contents

The circle was discovered and recorded by the antiquarian A. D. Passmore in the 1890s. He briefly mentioned it in an article published in The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, while detailing it in greater depth in his unpublished notebooks. He recorded the circle as consisting of eight stones at that time, with a possible avenue or stone row emerging from it and facing in the direction of the circle at Coate. Later archaeologists have noted that some of the sarsens used as building material in Hodson were once part of the circle.

Context

While the transition from the Early Neolithic to the Late Neolithic in the fourth and third millennia BCE saw much economic and technological continuity, there was a considerable change in the style of monuments erected, particularly in what is now southern and eastern England. [1] By 3000 BCE, the long barrows, causewayed enclosures, and cursuses that had predominated in the Early Neolithic were no longer built, and had been replaced by circular monuments of various kinds. [1] These include earthen henges, timber circles, and stone circles. [2] Stone circles are found in most areas of Britain where stone is available, with the exception of the island's south-eastern corner. [3] They are most densely concentrated in south-western Britain and on the north-eastern horn of Scotland, near Aberdeen. [3] The tradition of their construction may have lasted for 2,400 years, from 3300 to 900 BCE, with the major phase of building taking place between 3000 and 1,300 BCE. [4]

These stone circles typically show very little evidence of human visitation during the period immediately following their creation. [5] The historian Ronald Hutton noted that this suggests that they were not sites used for rituals that left archaeologically visible evidence, but may have been deliberately left as "silent and empty monuments". [6] The archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson argues that in Neolithic Britain, stone was associated with the dead, and wood with the living. [7] Other archaeologists have proposed that the stone might not represent ancestors, but rather other supernatural entities, such as deities. [6]

Various stone circles were erected in the area of modern Wiltshire, the best known of which are Avebury and Stonehenge. All of the other examples are ruined, and in some cases have been destroyed. [8] As noted by the archaeologist Aubrey Burl, these destroyed examples have left behind "only frustrating descriptions and vague positions". [8] Most of the known Wiltshire circles were erected on low-lying positions in the landscape. [8] In the area south of Swindon, a town in northern Wiltshire, at least seven stone circles are reported as having existed, often only a few miles distant from one another; [9] the Fir Clump Stone Circle was for instance a mile south of the Broome Stone Circle. [10] All of these northern Wiltshire circles have been destroyed, although the vestiges of one survives: [9] the stones at the Day House Lane Stone Circle in Coate, Swindon remain, albeit in a fallen state. [10]

Antiquarian investigation

The remains of the Day House Lane Stone Circle, which Passmore suggested might have connected to the Hodson Stone Circle with a stone avenue Stone circle, Day House Lane, Swindon - geograph.org.uk - 432582.jpg
The remains of the Day House Lane Stone Circle, which Passmore suggested might have connected to the Hodson Stone Circle with a stone avenue

In an 1894 article published in The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine , the antiquarian A. D. Passmore related that he was aware of "a number of sarsens" which he thought might have been part of a stone circle. [11] He noted that from these, a line of stones appeared to emerge and head in the direction of Coate. [11] Passmore also produced two notebooks during that decade in which he wrote down observations deriving from his archaeological fieldwork in the region. Here he recorded more about the circle. He observed that a road cut through the circle and several barns encroached on it, meaning that it was "very difficult to find". [12] The contents of Passmore's notebooks and their references to the Fir Clump Stone Circle were not published until 2004, after they had been purchased by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. [9]

In his notebook, Passmore noted that he could find eight stones as part of the circle. He also discovered three stones inside the circle, suggesting that these may have been part of an inner circle – in which case the circle would have had two concentric rings, akin to the Day House Lane circle. Alternatively, he suggested that the stones inside the circle may simply have been dumped there by farmers wanting them out of the way. [12] He also suggested that the circle was about 250 feet (76m) in diameter, and was thus of a similar size to the Day House Lane circle. [12] He identified "4 distinct lines of stone" emerging from the circle, suggesting that if this line continued all the way to Coate then it may have attached to the row of stones he also thought emerged from the Day House Lane ring. [12]

In their 2017 book on prehistoric Wiltshire, the archaeologists David Field and David McOmish noted that a stone circle was "thought to have been present" in Hodson, and that any stones once part of it might now be found as some of the sarsens lying loose around the village or incorporated into the fabric of various buildings. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Kennet Long Barrow</span> Neolithic tomb or barrow in Wiltshire, England

The West Kennet Long Barrow, also known as South Long Barrow, is a chambered long barrow near the village of Avebury in the south-western English county of Wiltshire. Probably constructed in the thirty-seventh century BC, during Britain's Early Neolithic period, today it survives in a partially reconstructed state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sanctuary</span> Prehistoric site in Wiltshire, England

The Sanctuary was a stone and timber circle near the village of Avebury in the south-western English county of Wiltshire. Excavation has revealed the location of the 58 stone sockets and 62 post-holes. The ring was part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although archaeologists speculate that the stones represented supernatural entities for the circle's builders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addington Long Barrow</span> Chambered long barrow in Kent, England

Addington Long Barrow is a chambered long barrow located near the village of Addington in the southeastern English county of Kent. Probably constructed in the fourth millennium BCE, during Britain's Early Neolithic period, today it survives only in a ruined state. Built of earth and about fifty local sarsen megaliths, the long barrow consisted of a sub-rectangular earthen tumulus enclosed by kerb-stones. Collapsed stones on the northeastern end of the chamber probably once formed a stone chamber in which human remains might have been deposited, though none have been discovered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoarstones</span> Stone circle in Shropshire, England

The Hoarstones, or Hoar Stone Circle, is a stone circle in the civil parish of Chirbury with Brompton in the English county of Shropshire. The Hoarstones are part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown.

The Whetstones are, or were, a stone circle beneath Corndon Hill in the parish of Church Stoke, Montgomeryshire, Wales, near the border with Shropshire, England. They lie immediately to the west of the village of White Grit and close to Priestweston. The site is also a short distance from the better-known Hoarstones and Mitchell's Fold circles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany</span> Megalithic tradition of monuments

The stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany are a megalithic tradition of monuments consisting of standing stones arranged in rings. These were constructed from 3300 to 900 BCE in Britain, Ireland and Brittany. It has been estimated that around 4,000 of these monuments were originally constructed in this part of north-western Europe during this period. Around 1,300 of them are recorded, the others having been destroyed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rempstone Stone Circle</span> Stone circle near Corfe Castle in Dorset, England

Rempstone Stone Circle is a stone circle located near to Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck in the south-western English county of Dorset. Archaeologists believe that it was likely erected during the Bronze Age. The Rempstone ring is part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3,300 and 900 BC. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although archaeologists speculate that they were likely religious sites, with the stones perhaps having supernatural associations for those who built the circles. Local folklore holds that the stones arrived in their position after being thrown at Corfe Castle by the Devil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine Stones Close</span> Stone circle in Derbyshire, England

Nine Stones Close, also known as the Grey Ladies, is a stone circle on Harthill Moor in Derbyshire in the English East Midlands. It is part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of the monument is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine Stones, Winterbourne Abbas</span> Stone circle in Dorset, England

The Nine Stones, also known as the Devil's Nine Stones, the Nine Ladies, or Lady Williams and her Dog, is a stone circle located near to the village of Winterbourne Abbas in the southwestern English county of Dorset. Archaeologists believe that it was likely erected during the Bronze Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston Russell Stone Circle</span> Stone circle in Dorset, England

Kingston Russell Stone Circle, also known as the Gorwell Circle, is a stone circle located between the villages of Abbotsbury and Littlebredy in the south-western English county of Dorset. Archaeologists believe that it was likely erected during the Bronze Age. The Kingston Russell ring is part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3,300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although archaeologists speculate that they were likely religious sites, with the stones perhaps having supernatural associations for those who built the circles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampton Down Stone Circle</span> Bronze Age construction in Dorset, England

The Hampton Down Stone Circle is a stone circle located near to the village of Portesham in the south-western English county of Dorset. Archaeologists believe that it was likely erected during the Bronze Age. The Hampton Down ring is part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3,300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although archaeologists speculate that they were likely religious sites, with the stones perhaps having supernatural associations for those who built the circles. However, it has been suggested that the site is not a stone circle at all, but is instead made up of kerbstones from a Bronze Age round barrow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porlock Stone Circle</span> Neolithic stone circle in Somerset, England

Porlock Stone Circle is a stone circle located on Exmoor, near the village of Porlock in the south-western English county of Somerset. The Porlock ring is part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although archaeologists speculate that the stones represented supernatural entities for the circles' builders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withypool Stone Circle</span> Late neolithic stone circle in Somerset, England

Withypool Stone Circle, also known as Withypool Hill Stone Circle, is a stone circle located on the Exmoor moorland, near the village of Withypool in the southwestern English county of Somerset. The ring is part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although archaeologists speculate that the stones represented supernatural entities for the circle's builders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falkner's Circle</span> Neolithic stone circle in Wiltshire, England

Falkner's Circle was a stone circle near the village of Avebury in the south-western English county of Wiltshire. Built from twelve sarsen megaliths, it measured about 37 metres (121 ft) in diameter, although only one of these stones remains standing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fir Clump Stone Circle</span> Neolithic stone circle in Wiltshire, England

Fir Clump Stone Circle was a stone circle in Burderop Wood near Wroughton, Wiltshire, in South West England. The ring was part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although some archaeologists speculate that the stones represented supernatural entities for the circle's builders.

Winterbourne Bassett Stone Circle is the remains of a stone circle near the village of Winterbourne Bassett in Wiltshire, South West England. Investigations in the 18th and 19th centuries found evidence of an outer and inner ring, and a single central stone; today six stones are visible although none remain upright.

Clatford Stone Circle, also known as The Broadstones, was a stone circle located in the village of Clatford in the south-western English county of Wiltshire.

Tisbury Stone Circle and Henge was a stone circle and henge in Tisbury, Wiltshire. Archaeologists believe that it was likely erected during the Bronze Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Day House Lane Stone Circle</span> Neolithic stone circle in Wiltshire, England

Day House Lane Stone Circle, also known as Coate Stone Circle, is a stone circle near the hamlet of Coate, now on the southeastern edge of Swindon, in the English county of Wiltshire. The ring was part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although some archaeologists speculate that the stones represented supernatural entities for the circle's builders.

Broome Stone Circle was a stone circle located in the south-western English county of Wiltshire. The ring was part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE. The purpose of such monuments is unknown, although archaeologists speculate that the stones represented supernatural entities for the circle's builders.

References

Notes

    Footnotes

    1. 1 2 Hutton 2013, p. 81.
    2. ↑ Hutton 2013, pp. 91–94.
    3. 1 2 Hutton 2013, p. 94.
    4. ↑ Burl 2000, p. 13.
    5. ↑ Hutton 2013, p. 97.
    6. 1 2 Hutton 2013, p. 98.
    7. ↑ Hutton 2013, pp. 97–98.
    8. 1 2 3 Burl 2000, p. 310.
    9. 1 2 3 Burl 2004, p. 197.
    10. 1 2 Burl 2000, p. 311.
    11. 1 2 Passmore 1894, p. 174.
    12. 1 2 3 4 Burl 2004, p. 205.
    13. ↑ Field & McOmish 2017, p. 79.

    Bibliography

    • Burl, Aubrey (2000). The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany . New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-300-08347-7.
    • Burl, Aubrey (2004). "A. D. Passmore and the Stone Circles of North Wiltshire". Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine. 97: 197–210.
    • Field, David; McOmish, David (2017). The Making of Prehistoric Wiltshire. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN   978-1-4456-4841-5.
    • Hutton, Ronald (2013). Pagan Britain. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-300-19771-6.
    • Passmore, A. D. (1894). "Notes on an Undescribed Stone Circle at Coate, near Swindon". Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine. 27: 171–174.

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.