Marden Henge facts for kids
Map of Marden Henge
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 Location in Wiltshire
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| Location | Marden, Wiltshire |
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| Coordinates | 51°19′24″N 1°52′16″W / 51.3233°N 1.8712°W |
| Type | Henge |
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| Periods | Neolithic |
Marden Henge (also known as Hatfield Earthworks) is a really old and huge circular earthwork from the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age. It's the biggest henge ever found in the United Kingdom! You can find it in Marden, Wiltshire, England, not too far from the famous Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage sites.
What is Marden Henge?
Imagine a giant oval shape made of earth! Marden Henge has a big bank on the outside and a ditch on the inside. This design is typical for a henge. The River Avon forms part of its edge on the south and west sides.
This ancient site is super wide, about 530 meters across. It covers an area as big as 14 football fields! English Heritage looks after this important place today.
Long ago, there was a huge mound inside called Hatfield Barrow. Sadly, it collapsed after someone dug into it in the 1800s. Today, farmers' plows have flattened parts of the henge over many years. There are no tall standing stones here anymore.
About a kilometer south, experts have found another henge called Wilsford Henge.
Discoveries at Marden Henge
This whole area became a special protected site in 1953. In 1969, an archaeologist named Geoff Wainwright dug here. He found a circle made of wood and special pottery called Grooved ware. This pottery was similar to what was found at another important site called Durrington Walls. You can see some of the cool things found here at the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes.
In 2010, scientists used special tools and aerial surveys to study the henge and the land around it. During this research, they found a Neolithic building. It was described as the best-preserved Stone Age building ever found in England!
The University of Reading started a three-year project in 2015 to explore the Pewsey Vale area, including Marden Henge. They are learning even more about this amazing ancient site.
