Flagstones Enclosure
sarsen stone from Flagstones Enclosure | |
Region | Dorset, England |
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Coordinates | 50°42′25″N 2°25′12″W / 50.707°N 2.420°W |
Type | Causewayed enclosure |
History | |
Periods | Neolithic / Bronze Age |
Flagstones is a late Neolithic interrupted ditch enclosure (similar to a causewayed enclosure) on the outskirts of Dorchester, Dorset, England. It derives its name from having been discovered beneath the site of the demolished Flagstones House.[1] Half of it was excavated in the 1980s when the Dorchester by-pass was built; the rest of it still exists under the grounds of Max Gate, Thomas Hardy's house.
The Druid Stone
In March 1891 workmen were digging under the lawn at
Excavations
Around half of the enclosure was excavated in 1987.[5] The part of the enclosure in the grounds of Flagstones House was excavated by Wessex Archaeology, and then the grounds were totally removed to make a deep cutting for the Dorchester by-pass road.[1] The other half still exists under the grounds of Max Gate.[1]
The enclosure comprised a circular ring of unevenly spaced pits constructed in the late 4th millennium BC.
A large henge enclosure known as Mount Pleasant henge lies around 500 metres to the east, whereas Maumbury Rings lie about 1500 metres to the west.
References
- ^ a b c d Flagstones Enclosure at the Megalithic Portal, accessed 13 April 2015
- ^ ISBN 978-1840225594.
- ^ ISBN 0199275661.
- ISBN 0140436995.
- ^ a b c d e f Historic England. "Flagstones Enclosure (983955)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 13 April 2015.
Further reading
- Roland J. C. Smith, 1997, Excavations along the Route of the Dorchester Bypass, Dorset Wessex Archaeology Report