Robin Hood's Ball facts for kids

Robin Hood’s Ball is an ancient site from the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age. It is a special type of place called a causewayed enclosure. You can find it on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England.

This historic spot is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) northwest of Amesbury. It's also about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northwest of the famous Stonehenge. In 1965, Robin Hood’s Ball was officially recognized as a scheduled monument. This means it's an important historical site protected by law.

Why Is It Called Robin Hood’s Ball?

The name Robin Hood’s Ball might make you think of the famous folk hero, but this place has nothing to do with him!

Maps from the 1800s show that the name "Robin Hood's Ball" first belonged to a small group of trees. This group of trees was just northwest of the ancient earthworks. Over time, people started using the name for the earthworks themselves instead. For example, a map from 1820 by Greenwood shows the trees as Robin Hood's Ball. The enclosure itself was then called Neath Barrow.

What Is a Causewayed Enclosure?

A causewayed enclosure is a type of ancient monument. It is made up of a circle of ditches that were dug in short sections. These sections were not connected all the way around. Instead, they left gaps, like little paths, between them. These paths are called 'causeways'. They lead from outside the enclosure to its center.

Robin Hood’s Ball has one main causeway. This path cuts through two circles of ditches. Behind these ditches are low banks of earth. The site is on a small hill. If there were no trees in the New Stone Age, people could see far across the plain. They might even have seen the area where Stonehenge is now.

When Was Robin Hood’s Ball Built?

Robin Hood’s Ball is a very old site. It was built around 4000 BC, which is about 6,000 years ago! People likely used it until about 3000 BC.

When Robin Hood’s Ball was first made, other famous monuments nearby didn't exist yet. Places like the Stonehenge Cursus, Durrington Walls, or Stonehenge itself were not built. However, there might have been an older henge at Coneybury, about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) east of Stonehenge. Also, some very old postholes were found at Stonehenge. These show that people were in that area even before the main monument was built.

Many long barrows, which are ancient burial mounds, were also built around this time. Some were close to Robin Hood’s Ball. Examples include White Barrow and Winterbourne Stoke Long Barrow. Robin Hood’s Ball probably stopped being used around 3000 BC. This was about the same time that the first earthworks at Stonehenge began. Stonehenge itself started as a causewayed enclosure too.

What Was Robin Hood’s Ball Used For?

We don't know exactly what Robin Hood’s Ball was used for. It has never been fully dug up by archaeologists. However, experts have some ideas about these types of ancient camps.

They might have been meeting places for different groups of people. Tribes could have gathered here for special ceremonies or events. People also suggest they were used for trading goods. They might have been places for defense or for celebrations. It's possible they had many different uses!

Robin Hood’s Ball was built when people were changing their way of life. They were moving from being hunter-gatherers to living in permanent settlements. This big change is called the Neolithic Revolution. Causewayed enclosures like this one are found spread out across the south of England. This suggests they might have been important centers for different communities or tribes.

Visiting Robin Hood’s Ball

Robin Hood’s Ball is located within the Salisbury Plain Training Area. This is an area used by the military for training. It is also inside the Larkhill live firing area.

There is a public path next to the site. However, you can only use this path when danger flags are not flying. It is very important to stay on the path for your safety.