Windmill Hill Causewayed Enclosure [Map]. Historic England 1008446.

The monument includes a Causewayed Enclosure, a small mortuary enclosure, part of an early prehistoric field system and a group of eight Bronze Age round barrows forming the core of a wider round barrow cemetery, all situated on Windmill Hill, a prominent but low hill north-west of Avebury. Until recently, the Causewayed Enclosure and broadly contemporary mortuary enclosure were thought to be the earliest evidence for human occupation of the hilltop. Prior to this date, however, it would appear that the hill was under cultivation. On the eastern side of Windmill Hill are a series of slight earthworks which form the outlines of field boundaries and enclosures. Recent survey work has suggested that this field system runs beneath the enclosure and is therefore of earlier date. The causewayed enclosure has a small circular area surrounded by three roughly concentric rings comprising banks and ditches, centred just north and downslope of the summit of Windmill Hill. The ditches are interrupted at regular intervals by causeways, created as a result of the gang construction method used to form the ditches and banks. The outer limits of the enclosure form an oval ring aligned roughly south-west to north-east. The overall dimensions of the enclosure are 400m by 300m at the widest points. Numerous excavations of the causewayed enclosure, originally by Keiller, then by Smith in the 1960s, and more recently by Whittle, have contributed much to our understanding of the site. Finds have included Neolithic flint artefacts such as arrowheads, axe-heads, a sickle blade and scrapers. Ceremonial chalk cups, animal bones and skulls have also been found.

A type of Neolithic pottery found on sites across Wessex was first identified here and has taken the name of the site. The enclosure was in use from about 3000BC to around 2500BC. Broadly contemporary with the causewayed enclosure, and situated to the east and located immediately outside a causeway leading into the outer ring of earthworks, is a mortuary enclosure. This was used for the exposure of human corpses prior to their formal burial in mounds or chambered tombs such as nearby West Kennet [Map]. Although not visible at ground level, it survives as a rectangular enclosure 33.5m long by 22m wide defined by a buried ditch 0.3m wide.

Carbon Date. 3190BC. Middle Neolithic Carbon Dates

Report: Antler from primary chalk silt in ditch at Horslip Barrow, Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England.

ID: 4338, C14 ID: BM-180 Date BP: 5190 +/- 150, Start Date BP: 5040, End BP: 5340

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 714

Archaeologist Name: P Ashbee

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 11, 1969, 285; Antiquity, 34, 1960, 297-9; Antiquity, 40, 1966, 299

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 2910BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates

Report: Charcoal from pre-bank Neo occ at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England.

ID: 4138, C14 ID: BM-73 Date BP: 4910 +/- 150, Start Date BP: 4760, End BP: 5060

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 714

Archaeologist Name: I F Smith

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 3, 1961, 42; Smith I F, 'Windmill Hill and Avebury: excavations by Alexander Keiller 1925-39' (1965), 11 and 28

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 2740BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates

Report: Collagen from bone, ref 23200, id as Bos sp by Caroline Grigson, from placed bone deposit 229 in primary chalk fill at base of outer ditch (Trench B) at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England. Subm AW 1988. Comment (subm): Results agree well with OxA series for same site and establish date of enclosure at c 4700 BP. BM-2671 to -2673 show later depositions in same tradition as primary use; BM-2672 might be a little young, or indicate relatively slow rate of silting.

ID: 6404, C14 ID: BM-2669 Date BP: 4740 +/- 50, Start Date BP: 4690, End BP: 4790

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 713

Archaeologist Name: A Whittle

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 36, 1994, 100-101

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 2670BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates

Report: Collagen from bone, ref 4734, id as Bos sp by Caroline Grigson, from single bone in scatter in primary fill 418 in middle ditch (Trench D) at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England. Subm AW 1988. Comment (subm): Results agree well with OxA series for same site and establish date of enclosure at c 4700 BP. BM-2671 to -2673 show later depositions in same tradition as primary use; BM-2672 might be a little young, or indicate relatively slow rate of silting.

ID: 6405, C14 ID: BM-2670 Date BP: 4670 +/- 90, Start Date BP: 4580, End BP: 4760

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 713

Archaeologist Name: A Whittle

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 36, 1994, 100-101

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 2550BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates

Report: Collagen from bone, ref 12278, id as Bos sp by Caroline Grigson, from placed deposit 525 at junction of primary and secondary fills in middle ditch (Trench E) at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England. Subm AW 1988. Comment (subm): Results agree well with OxA series for same site and establish date of enclosure at c 4700 BP. BM-2671 to -2673 show later depositions in same tradition as primary use; BM-2672 might be a little young, or indicate relatively slow rate of silting.

ID: 6412, C14 ID: BM-2671 Date BP: 4550 +/- 50, Start Date BP: 4500, End BP: 4600

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 713

Archaeologist Name: A Whittle

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 36, 1994, 100-101

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 2530BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates

Report: Charcoal from primary silt of ditch at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England.

ID: 4139, C14 ID: BM-74 Date BP: 4530 +/- 150, Start Date BP: 4380, End BP: 4680

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 714

Archaeologist Name: I F Smith

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 3, 1961, 42; Smith I F, 'Windmill Hill and Avebury: excavations by Alexander Keiller 1925-39' (1965), 11 and 28

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 2370BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates

Report: Collagen from bone, ref 6389, id as Bos sp by Caroline Grigson, from placed deposit 629 at junction of primary and secondary fills of inner ditch (Trench F) at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England. Subm AW 1988. Comment (subm): Results agree well with OxA series for same site and establish date of enclosure at c 4700 BP. BM-2671 to -2673 show later depositions in same tradition as primary use; BM-2672 might be a little young, or indicate relatively slow rate of silting.

ID: 6413, C14 ID: BM-2672 Date BP: 4370 +/- 50, Start Date BP: 4320, End BP: 4420

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 713

Archaeologist Name: A Whittle

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 36, 1994, 100-101

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 2310BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates

Report: Collagen from bone, ref 3915, id as Bos sp by Caroline Grigson, from placed deposit 317 in upper part of outer ditch (Trench C) at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England. Subm AW 1988. Comment (subm): Results agree well with OxA series for same site and establish date of enclosure at c 4700 BP. BM-2671 to -2673 show later depositions in same tradition as primary use; BM-2672 might be a little young, or indicate relatively slow rate of silting.

ID: 6414, C14 ID: BM-2673 Date BP: 4310 +/- 60, Start Date BP: 4250, End BP: 4370

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 713

Archaeologist Name: A Whittle

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 36, 1994, 100-101

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767

Carbon Date. 1500BC. Late Bronze Age Carbon Dates

Report: Charcoal from old turfline associated with Late Neo and Beaker wares at Windmill Hill, Avebury [Map], Wiltshire, England.

ID: 4140, C14 ID: BM-75 Date BP: 3500 +/- 150, Start Date BP: 3350, End BP: 3650

OS Letter: SU, OS East: 87, OS North: 714

Archaeologist Name: I F Smith

Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 3, 1961, 42; Smith I F, 'Windmill Hill and Avebury: excavations by Alexander Keiller 1925-39' (1965), 11 and 28

Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767