Cerne

Cerne is a place-name used in Dorset, England, most notably for Cerne Abbas, a village and civil parish in the West Dorset district. The surrounding countryside lies in the chalk hills of the Dorset Downs and forms part of the rural landscape characteristic of the region.

Cerne Abbas is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and has a parish church dating to the medieval period. Historically, the village has been shaped by agriculture and related trades, and it sits near ancient landscape features that connect it to the broader history of the area. The name Cerne Abbas is closely associated with the local hillside feature known as the Cerne Abbas Giant, a landmark that has attracted attention from antiquarians, folklorists, and visitors alike.

The Cerne Abbas Giant is a large chalk figure on the hillside above the village. The figure, depicting a nude male with a pronounced club, is said to stand about 55 meters (180 feet) tall and is visible from a wide area. The origin and age of the figure are the subject of debate, with theories ranging from late prehistoric to medieval or early modern periods. Today it is protected as a scheduled ancient monument and remains a prominent example of British landscape art. The giant has figured prominently in local folklore and in scholarly discussions about ritual landscapes and the ways communities modify their environments.