http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ mirrored file For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== Ancient-Wisdom.Co.Uk /A *cursus* comprises of two parallel linear ditches with internal banks, closed off at the ends. There are around 200 examples known from all over the British Isles, as follows:/ *England - Over 100 (6), Scotland - 'Over 50' (4), Ireland - (3), Wales - (9).* /Featured articles/ * <#what>What is a *Cursus*? <#what> * What was the function of *Cursus*? <#purpose> * When were they made? <#when> * Some examples of *Cursus*'. <#examples> /There is still very little known about these long, narrow earthwork structures date from the Neolithic period - many from around 6,000 years ago - and thus some of the oldest monumental structures in the British isles. They have been found across Britain from southern England to Ireland and Scotland, and stand beside some of the most famous archaeological sites in Britain, such as at Stonehenge , Thornborough and Newgrange ./ *(Scroll down for more)* *What is a *Cursus*?* */Definition: Concise Oxford Dictionary of *Archaeology*./* * * **cursus* (pl. /cursūs /) [MC]. *A kind of Neolithic ceremonial monument comprising a rectangular enclosure defined by a bank with external ditches. The longest example is the pair of end-to-end joined cursūs known as the Dorset *Cursus* on Cranborne Chase, Dorset, which together run for more than 10km across the grain of the landscape. More typically, cursūs are between 500m and 3km long and up to 80m ... /Artist's impression of Stonehenge *Cursus*./ *Cursus* monuments are essentially very long and relatively narrow rectangular enclosures, with a near continuous boundary of an interior bank and an exterior ditch. The only breaks in this boundary are the 'causeways', or possible entrances. The ends of a *cursus* are either squared-off or rounded. In Scotland, about half the known sites (which now number over 50) have a boundary of pits or post-holes which held large upright timbers, rather than earthwork perimeters. A few sites have a single mound running along their centre, rather like a bank barrow. (Return to the top) * What were the function(s) of *Cursus*'.* /The name '*cursus*' derives from the 16th century antiquarian, William Stuckley's nineteenth century idea that they were 'prehistoric racetracks'. This idea has long since evaporated and current thinking favours the idea that they may have served as processional or ritual gathering places./ It has been observed that *cursus*' often appear to incorporate /funerary/ monuments in their design, although these may have been added later. Manley (1), says 'It seems likely that they were in some way utilised for astronomical purposes', (1) an idea which appears supported by the observation that the Dorset , Stonehenge , and Newgrange *cursus*' appear to show significant alignments for astronomy (2) (see below). Manley (1) also suggests that the Scottish 'double alignment of pits (often closed at one end)', could also be related to *cursus*'. A 'British *Archaeology*' article by K. Brophy (4), suggests that there may be a connection between *cursus* monuments and streams and rivers. /'The majority lie on flood-plains or river-terraces, close to the river. The Dorset *Cursus* and the Eskdalemuir bank barrow in Dumfries and Galloway are amongst several possible *cursus* which cross, or are crossed by, rivers. Some sites are completely surrounded by waterways, like Maxey *Cursus* in Cambridgeshire. Old Montrose *Cursus* in Angus sits on a raised area of a valley floor which, in the event of flooding, could become an island. Other sites may have had seasonally flooded ditches, creating a powerful visual image when sunlight reflected off watery ditches stretching across the landscape'. / He also noted that /'about half the known [Scottish] sites have a boundary of pits post-holes which held large upright timbers, rather than earthwork perimeters' (4)/ / / **Cursus* as Ungulate Traps.* A convincing argument is put forward by Robson (8), for the theory that *cursus* may have had their origin as large ungulate traps for migrating pasture animals such as deer or cow. The remains of hundred year old caribou traps can still be seen today in Canada, which although not used since, still stretch across the landscape for miles. This idea is clearly not in line with modern thinking as it suggests that the motivation behind the labour was primarily survival, and that any ceremonial funerary (and occasional astronomical) associations are ritualistic or secondary additions. The theory in essence suggests that: /Fences are built across the path of a known migrating herd./ /Animals are herded towards the *cursus*, then into its environs, where they become effectively stuck./ /The animals are later selectively removed from the *cursus*, leaving little or no remains./ This theory also takes into account several features of *cursus*, such as: /The presence of causewayed entrances, banks and ditches./ /It explains the presence of a river at many sites./ /It explains the lack of astronomical continuity at *cursus*./ /The presence of wooden stakes at the ends of Scottish *cursus*./ (Click here for more on this subject) (Return to the top) *When were *Cursus* first made.* There are several curses dated at before 3,000 BC (Dorset, Thornborough , Boyne-valley , Stonehenge ). A fact which shows how the location of certain important Neolithic sites have been retained and re-used over time. The Scorton *cursus*, is dated at around 3,500 BC, with the oldest *cursus* appearing in Britain at around 4,000 BC (4). /The Stonehenge *Cursus* has recently dated at 3,500 BC by a team from Manchester University. (7)/ The fact that both the Dorchester-on Thames Henge in Oxfordshire, and the Thornborough *cursus* can be shown to have been built over by henges , illustrates the antiquity of these mysterious structures. The Rudstone landscape also show the presence of a *cursus*. In light of this finding, it seems a reasonable to propose that the *cursus* and the henge are in some way related, as they both share the same intrinsic design features: Being areas of flattened land surrounded by banks and ditches - creating an artificial horizon line. (Return to the top) *Examples of *Cursus*'.* *English *Cursus*.*/* * (There are over a hundred *cursus* in England alone) (6) / * * *Dorset *Cursus** - The longest known *cursus* in UK runs for nearly 10 Km and was laid out sometime around 3,000 BC. The Dorset *cursus* is actually two *cursus* joined end to end with an elbow in the middle (1), with the southerly /Gussage/ *Cursus* pre-dating the northerly / Pentridge/ *Cursus* (Wilipedia.org). Service and Bradbury (2) say of the Dorset *cursus* that it... 'aligns at various points with horizon markers that indicate the rising or setting places of some important phases of the moon'. (More about the Dorset *cursus*) /*Forham (All Saints) *Cursus*, Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk. */ * stonehenge cursus Stonehenge *Cursus** - There are two *cursus* at Stonehenge . The main *cursus* is aligned with nearby Woodhenge, and can therefore be considered astronomical in nature as the Stonehenge-Woodhenge alignment is orientated along the path of the midsummer sunrise. (see A lignments for more). /The larger Stonehenge *cursus* is now known to be older then Stonehenge, having been dated at 3,500 BC by a team from Manchester University. This discovery adds to the list of important and sacred sites at which a *cursus* monument can be seen to be superseded by a Henge monument. (7) / (Click here for large O/S map of Stonehenge *Cursus*) Stonehenge *Cursus* (left), and Stonehenge lesser (Right) * Rudstone cursus Rudstone *cursus*'-* There are four *cursus*' (possibly five) at Rudstone , all converging on the great menhir in the centre of the village (The largest standing stone in Britain). The Rudstone complex offers us a tantalising glimpse of the prehistoric ritual landscape, and reinforces the idea that *cursus*' may have had a ritual or ceremonial function. (Click here to see the layout of the Rudstone *Cursus*') *Thornborough* - The Thornborough *cursus* was built over at around 3,000 BC with three henge-circles, suggesting that the location itself had a significance to the builders. This re-use of a site combined with the later construction of Henges can be seen at other sites such as Stonehenge, and the Dorchester-on-Thames *cursus*. The Thornborough henges are now recognised as a part (the centre), of a larger sacred complex of megaliths. (Click here to see the layout of the Thornborough *cursus*) *Scorton *Cursus** - Several miles north of Thornborough. This *cursus* was originally about 2.1km long and aligned SE-NW. Clustered round the monument were a number of ring ditches, one that was excavated had a single burial with a beaker. This would date the site as being in use from around 3,500 BC until at least the Bronze Age c.2,000 BC. The *cursus* was cut almost 'dead-straight' over it's entire length and was 37.2m wide. The *cursus* was constructed by digging two parallel ditches 4.10m wide on the east side and 3.90m wide on the west. (Click here to see 1850 O/S map of Scorton) *Scottish *Cursus*.* *The Twelve Apostles* - The Twelve Apostles is Scotland's second largest stone circle, and the seventh largest in the UK. The importance of the area is reinforced by the fact that there were once two long *cursus*' which passed close to the site. (3) *Irish *Cursus*:* *Newgrange *cursus** - The *cursus* is barely visible today but extended around 100 m from the valley of the River Mattock to climb the ridge occupied by the Newgrange tomb. Here it is rounded off by a terminal bank. The *cursus* was around 20 m wide. The Boyne valley, which includes Newgrange , Knowth and Dowth , is a huge celestial observatory, enabling the builders to determine the phases of the solar and lunar cycles. This reinforces the idea that *cursus* probably served an astronomical function. The Boyne Valley *cursus* is orientated to the winter solstice sunrise, as is the Newgrange passage mound. (More about Boyne Valley) *Loughcrew* - Archaeological attention has recently focused on the land below Slieve na Calliagh, in particular to the north. Here Conor Newman noted for the first time a *cursus*-like monument 150m SW of the Ballinvalley stone circle. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prehistoric/past/PAST051.pdf *Hill of Tara* - A reinterpretation of part of the earthworks at Tara suggests that the site may be an example of the 'reuse' of sacred monuments. (More about Tara Hill) http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/Absts1.htm *Welsh *Cursus*:* *Spread eagle*, Hay on Wye - In Alex Gibson's description of the *cursus* monuments of Wales (5), he describes this site thus: "A cropmark of two parallel ditches orientated SE-NW, 15m apart and traceable for some 130m. It runs perpendicular to the present course of the River Wye 50m to the NE. No terminals are visible, but there is a large ring ditch across the river 450m to the NW. A closely-grouped cluster of some 8 ring ditches is visible on a gravel terrace some 150m to the E," but adds finally that "the identification of this site is suspect and may represent a fossil field system." SO162378 (52° 1' 54.43" N, 3° 13' 18.05" W). *The Walton Green *Cursus** - The south west end of the site is at SO26195978 and north east end is at SO26826001. Measures 660m long by 30m wide, with squared ends and rounded corners. http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/hsmr/db.php?smr_no=22951 *Hindwell* is set in an area full of Neolithic activity, including two *cursus* monuments. http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba14/ba14news.html *Llandegai* - Discovered as a crop-mark during the long dry summer of 1959 by air photographers from Cambridge University, the prehistoric burial and ritual complex at Llandegai is among the most important prehistoric landscapes anywhere in Wales. The air photo mapping shows the main features: with two circular henge monuments dating to circa 3,000 BC and the parallel ditches of a roughly contemporary *cursus*, or ritual avenue, to the right. http://www.rcahmw.gov.uk/os/llandegai.shtml *Llandisillio* - Aerial photography has revealed an enclosure at Pencnwc while a most exciting discovery, by Dyfed Archaeological Trust, has revealed a linear crop mark across the village which may be evidence of a *cursus* – part of some ceremonial complex, possibly dating from the Neolithic period. http://www.llandissilio.org.uk/local_history.html *Sarn-y-Bryn-Caled* - The *cursus* complex at Sarn-y-Bryn-Caled is a long, rectangular ditched enclosure about 10 metres wide and 400 metres long. It has banks on the outside of the ditches and was dated to the Neolithic period about 3,700 BC. http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/21625 ) *Welshpool* - An important complex of prehistoric ritual monuments occupies the fields to either side of Dyffryn Lane, Berriew, about 4 miles south of Welshpool in the Severn valley. The earliest sites appear to be a Neolithic long barrow and a nearby enclosure, both of which are known to date to about 3,500 BC. Two possible rectangular timber house sites might be of either Neolithic or early medieval date and the complex also includes a possible Neolithic *cursus* monument which, like many of the other sites, has been identified by aerial photography. http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbawales/Newsletters/newsletter32/newsletter32.html *Brecknock* - Another possible *cursus* monument has been identified in Brecknock, lying close to the River Wye at Pipton. (Return to the top) ۞ The 'Rough Guide' to ancient sites from around the world. * Index of Ancient and Sacred sites * / Includes: Stone circles, Dolmens, Menhirs, Cart-ruts, Pyramids, Holed-stones, *Cursus*', Underground and underwater sites, Oracle centres, Earth navels, and more.../ *References*: 1) J. Manley. Atlas of Prehistoric Britain. 1989. Oxford University Press. 2). A. Service, J. Bradbery. Megaliths and their Mysteries. 1979. Macmillan press. 3). Cope, J. The Modern Antiquarian. 1998. Harper Collins Publ. 4). http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba44/ba44feat.html 5). Barclay & Harding's Pathways and Ceremonies, Oxbow: Oxford 1999. 6). English Heritage - personal correspondence (2006) 7). http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=3719 8). A.S. Robson, Stonehenge and the Anasazi Roads. Prehistoric Publishing. ☼ *About Us | Homepage | A-Z Site Index | Discussion Forum | Contact-Us *