Knowlton Circles, Neolithic henge complex in Dorset, England
Knowlton Circles is a group of four Neolithic henges in Dorset, with Church Henge being the largest structure marked by distinctive ditches. The site shows the typical arrangement of prehistoric ceremonial places, where earthen banks and ditches create circular patterns.
These sites originated during the Neolithic period, with Church Henge later being reused as a religious place in medieval times. Anglo-Saxon peoples buried their dead nearby, with skeletons placed in graves that followed an east-west orientation.
A Norman church once stood inside Church Henge, showing how medieval communities placed Christian structures directly onto older sacred ground. This layering of beliefs in one location reveals how communities adapted their spiritual practices across different eras.
The site is open to visitors during daylight hours and sits in open countryside, so prepare for changing weather conditions. The circular enclosures are easy to spot from a distance, with the ditches and banks clearly marking the ground.
The Great Barrow is a large prehistoric mound featuring concentric ditches that show how elaborate these structures were built. Such internal details are only visible when you look closely at the ground.
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