henge

A henge is a prehistoric earthwork characterized by a circular or oval bank with an accompanying ditch. In the classic form, the bank forms the exterior boundary while the ditch runs inside the bank’s inner slope, creating an enclosed interior space. The term does not require the interior to contain monuments, though many henges later acquired timber or stone circles within them.

Henges are primarily found in the British Isles and date to the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age, roughly 3000 to 2000 BCE. They are among several large earthworks built during that period and are distinguished by their bank-and-ditch configuration rather than by walling or defensive design.

The function of henges remains debated. They are generally interpreted as ceremonial, social, or ritual centers rather than defensive works or simple burial mounds. Their exact purpose likely varied between sites and over time, and some were used for gatherings, processions, or astronomical observations, while others may have served as status markers within communities.

Construction involved moving substantial amounts of soil to raise a bank and dig a surrounding ditch. Sizes vary widely, with some enclosures covering extensive areas. Many henges host later features such as standing stones or timber posts inside, while others retain only the earthworks themselves.

Notable examples include Avebury Henge in Wiltshire, which encloses a large interior and contains stone settings; Stonehenge in Wiltshire, the best-known henge, which contains a monumental stone circle within a circular earthwork; and Durrington Walls, a large Neolithic henge near Stonehenge. The term “henge” is a technical descriptor in archaeology and refers specifically to this bank-and-ditch earthwork, regardless of internal monuments.