Offham Hill Causewayed Enclosure, Neolithic causewayed enclosure in Hamsey, England
Offham Hill Causewayed Enclosure is an ancient site in Hamsey with multiple concentric ditches and earthen banks interrupted by regular gaps. The ditches do not run continuously but have open sections that likely served as entrances and exits.
The site dates to the mid-Neolithic period, several thousand years before present. Excavations in the 1970s uncovered thousands of flint tools, pottery fragments, and human remains.
The structure shows how Neolithic communities organized together and worked on shared projects. The interrupted ditches suggest people gathered here, possibly for ceremonies or important meetings.
The site lies northeast of Lewes and is accessible via the South Downs foothills. Access involves walking across open ground, so appropriate footwear and weather awareness are helpful for your visit.
A large section of the site was destroyed by chalk quarrying in the 1800s and is now missing. This suggests the original layout may have been D-shaped rather than circular.
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