Pair of concentric Early Neolithic ring ditches and cremation, Middle Bronze Age pit, Moverons Farm (EHER 17651)

Excavations in 1994-5 revealed the remains of two concentric Early Neolithic ring ditches, at the centre of which was a single fragmentary cremation. A causeway ran through the ring ditches to the north-east. The outer ditch was recut on at least seven occasions, suggesting a protracted period of maintenance. The site is thought to be ceremonial in nature. The only evidence for later activity here is a single Middle Bronze Age ditch.

1994-5. Trial trench evaluation (December 1994-January 1995) followed by excavation (March 1995) These investigations revealed a D-shaped Early Neolithic enclosure. The outer ditch measured 1.7m deep and 3.5m wide. The ditch was originally segmented, with at least one causeway on the east side which has been cut through by the last shallow recut. The ditch appeared to have been recut on at least seven occasions - up to ten recuts have been suggested. A late shallow recut continued across the causeway. The interior of the monument had been damaged through use as a rabbit warren (perhaps indicating the former presence of a mound), while pits and post holes outside the ring ditch have not yet had their contents properly analysed, so their relationship to the ring ditch is unclear. Internally an area with edges concentric to the ditch was filled with charcoally material and a large quantity of pottery including Mildenhall-style pottery, including two halves of a single vessel placed either side of the causeway. A linear feature, almost certainly a field boundary bisected the enclosure. It is possible that this site is one of the ring ditches referred to in TM 01 NE 22, though on the basis of the information currently available, it is impossible to be certain. <1> <2> <3> <4> The full publication of the excavation <5> records the recutting of the outer D-shaped enclosure, and also notes a concentric inner ring ditch which was either earlier than, or contemporary with, the digging of the outer ditch, but had gone out of use before the abandonment of the site. The remains of a cremation burial and a series of deliberate deposits of flint artefacts and Mildenhall-style pottery indicate the date and ceremonial nature of the monument. The earliest identifiable activity comprised the creation of the two concentric ring ditches. The outer ditch was oval, with its long axis running north-south, and measured 21m by 26m. A causeway ran through the ditch to the north-east at the point at which the ditch was deepest, and the excavator notes that this is approximately aligned on the midsummer sunrise. The irregularity of the base of the ditch (its sudden changes in depth and width) suggest that it may have been segmented in its original construction, but there is no evidence that it was left as a series of individual pits. The maintenance of this outer ditch involves at least seven phases of recutting, with a steadily diminishing effort noted by the excavator. The small, shallow concentric ring ditch was difficult to understand due to the impact of burrowing animals. It measured 8.5m by 7.5m and was 1.5m wide and 0.9m deep below the modern land surface. It was also oval in plan and again orientated north-south. Within the inner ring ditch was evidence for an irregular central pit or depression, from which were excavated the fragmentary remains of a cremation burial, and the rim of a bowl. It is possible that the inner ditch pre-dated, and was replaced by, the outer ditch, though it is possible that they were contemporary. Pits and post-holes outside the outer ditch were given a probable Neolithic date, and were clustered in the south-eastern part of the site, particularly around the south side of the original causeway. A single oval pit to the north-west of the concentric ring ditches contained a small quantity of Middle Bronze Age pottery. This is the only evidence for later prehistoric activity in the immediate vicinity of the Early Neolithic ring ditches, though other undated features may also be of this date. See EHER 17652 for detailed of later features from this site. See <5> for full details.