<< Our Photo Pages >> Dorchester Cursus - Cursus in England in Oxfordshire
Submitted by Andy B on Sunday, 17 July 2011 Page Views: 11639
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Dorchester CursusCountry: England County: Oxfordshire Type: Cursus
Nearest Town: Abingdon Nearest Village: Dorchester
Map Ref: SU56859595 Landranger Map Number: 164
Latitude: 51.659468N Longitude: 1.17953W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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Andy B has visited here
The ring ditch is therefore of a later date - probably the remains of a Bronze Age barrow. What is particularly interesting is that the ring ditch exactly bisects the cursus ditch, indicating that the cursus, from approximately a thousand years earlier, was still recognised, possibly revered.
Also found is tree-throw with mesolithic flints deposited in the roots and a rectilinear Neolithic enclosure.
Status: Certain
NMR No. SU 59 NE 5
Extent: 1600mx60m
Terminal type: Rounded
Date: 3380-2910 cal BC 93% confidence (BM-2443) for antler from ditch
Note: This location marks the north terminal (end) of a cursus monument. The location of the other terminal can be found in the Nearby Site list below.
I have given this a condition '5' as the cursus is so well preserverd under the ground but there will be nothing to see above ground once the excavation is over.
Note: Andy B visits the Dorchester-on-Thames cursus dig open day
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Nearby sites
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
158m SSE 162° Dorchester-on-Thames 6 Timber Circle (SU569958)
255m S 169° Dorchester-on-Thames 5 Timber Circle (SU569957)
255m S 169° Dorchester-on-Thames 4 Timber Circle (SU569957)
677m SSE 150° Dorchester Big Rings* Henge (SU57209537)
721m SE 133° Dorchester Cursus Cursus (SU57389546)
1.2km SE 133° Woodhenge (Dorchester) Henge (SU57759513)
1.7km ENE 60° Mount Farm (Oxfordshire) Timber Circle (SU583968)
1.7km SE 133° Dorchester Cursus Cursus (SU581948)
1.9km E 98° Dorchester-on-Thames 3 Timber Circle (SU587957)
2.4km SSE 168° Dyke Hills* Hillfort (SU57389358)
2.6km SE 131° Dorchester; Overy Cursus (SU588943)
3.2km SE 131° Dorchester; Overy Cursus (SU593939)
3.4km ENE 71° Drayton St. Leonard Cursus Cursus (SU601971)
3.5km S 179° Sinodun Camp* Hillfort (SU5694592434)
3.6km ENE 70° Drayton St. Leonard Cursus Cursus (SU602972)
4.1km NE 47° Stadhampton Cursus Cursus (SU59799875)
4.1km S 170° Brightwell Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SU576919)
4.3km SE 138° Shillingford Cursus Cursus (SU598928)
4.4km NE 45° Stadhampton Cursus Cursus (SU59909910)
4.7km SE 136° Warborough Cursus Cursus (SU60119260)
4.8km SE 137° Shillingford Cursus Cursus (SU602925)
5.6km WNW 296° Barrow Hills Radley I Timber Circle (SU518983)
7.2km NNE 33° Cuddesdon Stones Lower Standing Stone (Menhir) (SP6070002018)
7.3km SE 125° Benson Cursus Cursus (SU629919)
7.4km NNE 30° Cuddesdon Stones Upper Standing Stone (Menhir) (SP6042102411)
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