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Figsbury Ring

Wiltshire, England · Atlas EN0405

Figsbury Ring is a contour fort in Firsdown, Wiltshire, England.

Other names on the record: Chlorus' Camp.

It is recorded as extant, with a univallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank, rubble, counterscarp bank, and unfinished work, and an enclosed area of 6.4 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a spur and at 147 m.

The aspect is recorded as level.

Recorded land use includes pasture and scrub or bracken.

Dating evidence is recorded for 1200–800 BC, 800–400 BC, and 400 BC–AD 50 (Artefactual). Reliability is recorded as C - Low.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1005647).

Location

Atlas number
EN0405 (405)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
Wiltshire
Historic county
Wiltshire
Parish, community, or townland
Firsdown
National Grid reference
SU18833382
Latitude
51.10337
Longitude
-1.73232
Altitude
147 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
univallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
1
Number of ditches
2
Possible original entrances
2
Breaks through the ramparts
2
Enclosed area
6.4 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank, rubble, counterscarp bank, and unfinished work
Enclosing works, excavated
earthen bank
Also recorded
ditches and gang working
Entrance forms
Hornwork (East); Simple Gap (West)

Landscape

Topographic position
spur
Aspect
level
Land use
pasture and scrub or bracken

Dating

Dating
1200–800 BC, 800–400 BC, and 400 BC–AD 50
Dating evidence
Artefactual
Dating reliability
C - Low

Interior and investigation

Interior surface
quarry hollows
Finds
pottery, metal, metalworking, human bones, animal bones, lithics, and environmental material
Investigations
1st Identified Map Depiction (1773); Excavation (1924); Geophysical Survey (1981); Geophysical Survey (2004); 1st Identified Written Reference (1665-1693); Other (1875-1876)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1005647
HER
Wiltshire and Swindon MWI10868
National record
record SU 13 SE 27; monument 218432
Wikidata
Q31116813

Sources

References

  1. Brown, I.W. 2009. Beacons in the landscape. the hillforts of England and Wales, Oxford: Windgather Press/Oxbow, 223.
  2. Cunnington, M. 1924: Figsbury Rings: an account of the excavations in 1924. Wiltshire Archaeol Natur Hist Mag, 43, (1925), 48-58.
  3. Dunn, P, 2004. Defining The Circle: a multidisciplinary study of Figsbury Ring in South Wiltshire and a reassessment of its past. BSc disseration, Bournemouth University.
  4. Gater ,J. 1981 GEOPHYSICS : FIGSBURY RINGS AM LAB REPORT (OLD SERIES) 3554
  5. Pugh, R.B. and Crittall, E. eds 1957. A history of Wiltshire, 1.1, The Victoria history of the counties of England, Oxford: OUP, 124, 271.