England
Wiltshire

Wiltshire Travel Guide - Prehistoric Sites

From Stone crcles to long barrows, Wiltshire is a treasure trove for those who enjoy exploring England's past.

Avebury Sanctuary East Kennett, Wiltshire Traditionally known simply as 'The Sanctuary', this is a complex late Neolithic site, with the major phase of construction in about 2500 BCE. The Sanctuary is comprised of a concentric arrangement of wooden and stone posts. The location of the post holes is marked by concrete marker stones, which, while missing a lot of the atmosphere of well-preserved stone circles, does help you to easily view the layout of the site. Overton Hill, A4, East Kennett, Wiltshire, England, Location: Immediately beside the A4 at the top of Overton Hill. Parking in a small layby (south side of the road) or in the lane opposite (north side). Website: Avebury Sanctuary English Heritage

Avebury Stone Circle Location map Marlborough, Wiltshire Avebury is unique in that the village of Avebury lies partly within the henge, or outer circle of stones, and a road splits the circle. The main Avebury stone circle is roughly a quarter mile across, enclosing an area of about 28 acres, and it contains two smaller circles within it. There is an avenue of stones leading away from the circle towards Overton Hill a mile and a half away, and it has been speculated by some archaeologists that the avenue was constructed to form the body of a snake, with the circle as the snake's head. The avenue stones alternate from tall and thin to broad and trapezoidal, leading to more speculation that they represent males and females respectively. There is a very steep ditch and bank surrounding the stone circle. Excavation shows that the ditch was originally about 30 feet deep, with the bank an equal height. Do your math - that makes for a 60 foot tall barrier! Avebury probably served as a religious and ceremonial centre, though what those beliefs or ceremonies were we do not know. We also don't know quite when the site was built, though the current best guess (subject to change at a moment's notice, it seems) is that it was begun in about 3000 BC. Nearby are West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill. Well worth visiting. Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, SN8 1RF Location: 6 m W Marlborough on the A4361 Website: Avebury Stone Circle Email: avebury@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01672 539 250 Fax: 01672 539 388 National Trust

Bratton Camp Bratton, Wiltshire Bratton Camp is an Iron Age hillfort on Bratton Down, with two ditches and banks enclosing an arrea of 25 acres. At the centre of the site is a Neolithic long barrow, which predates the hillfort by up to 2000 years. B3098, Bratton, Wiltshire, England, Location: Off the B3098 2 miles east of Westbury. Parking available. Website: Bratton Camp English Heritage

Chisbury Camp Chisbury, Wiltshire An Iron Age hillfort which was later occupied during the Roman period. The hillfort is 14 acres in size, with two, or, in some places, three sets of banks and ditch defenses. Iron Age beads were found in the centre of the site, near later Roman pottery. Chisbury, Wiltshire, England, Location: Just east of Chisbury village off a minor road, near Manor Farm

Hatfield Earthworks Marden, Wiltshire A Neolithic henge and mound, located beside the River Avon. The henge is bounded by a bank and internal ditch, and encloses an area of about 35 acres. The earthworks are incomplete, especially on the southwest facing river side of the site, and there are two causewayed entrances. Marden, Wiltshire, England, Location: Off the minor road towards Woodborough, north east of Marden village. Open acess site Website: Hatfield Earthworks English Heritage

Silbury Hill West Kennet, Wiltshire An enigmatic, conical neolithic mound, begun about 2900BC; the largest purpose-built structure in Europe. Yes, but what was it used for? No one really knows; the conjecture ranges from astronomical observatory to grave site, although no graves have been found in several attempts at excavation. The hill can only be viewed from the road. Please observe the posted warnings not to climb it! near Avebury, West Kennet, Wiltshire, England, Location: 1 mile W of West Kennet on A4. Parking available. Website: Silbury Hill English Heritage

Stonehenge Amesbury, Wiltshire The most famous ancient site in Britain. Built in several stages between 3000 and 1500BC, incorporating stones from as far away as the Preseli Mountains in Wales (219 miles). Stonehenge in depth Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, Location: 2 miles W of Amesbury, at junction of A303 and A344 Website: Stonehenge Phone: 0870 333 1181 English Heritage

Stonehenge Landscape Location map Amesbury, Wiltshire The Stonehenge Landscape takes in much of the World Heritage Site around the famous stone circle. The National Trust owns 830ha of land surrounding Stonehenge, and within the extended landscape around the stone circle are burial mounds and a huge ‘cursus’ enclosure. 3-4 Stonehenge Cottages, King Barrows, Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, SP4 7DD Location: There are car parks at Stonehenge Stone Circle and at Woodhenge, and footpaths from Amesbury and Durrington. Website: Stonehenge Landscape Email: stonehenge@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01980 664780 National Trust

West Kennet Long Barrow Avebury, Wiltshire Long, tapering chambered tomb, with several galleries off the main passage. May have been linked with the nearby Avebury complex in ritual observances. near Avesbury, Avebury, Wiltshire, England, Location: along footpath off A4 Website: West Kennet Long Barrow English Heritage

West Kennett Avenue Avebury, Wiltshire A long, winding avenue, composed of parallel rows of standing stones, stretching the the southern end of the henge at Avebury to The Sanctuary on Overton Hill, over 1.5 miles away. Over 100 pairs of stones still stand, most near the Avebury end of the Avenue. B4003, Avebury, Wiltshire, England, Location: The best way to visit is to park in the National Trust parking lot in Avebury and walk across Avebury henge to the begining of the avenue. Try to avoid visiting at the time of the summer solstice, as the crowds can be very large. Website: West Kennett Avenue English Heritage

Windmill Hill Avebury, Wiltshire The most famous of the causewayed camps, it even gave its name to the culture which created them. It may have been used as a communal gathering-place, and for religious observances. Avebury, Wiltshire, England, Location: On a minor road at the north end of Avebury Trusloe village Website: Windmill Hill English Heritage

Woodhenge Durrington, Wiltshire Ditched enclosure that once housed a wooden building made up of six concentric circles. Possibly the site of child-sacrifice; the skeleton of an infant was found in a grave within the henge, its skull split in two. Durrington, Wiltshire, England, Location: Just off the A345 immediately south of Durrington Website: Woodhenge English Heritage