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      2 Date

    Timber circles are generally dated by reference to pottery and other
    artefactual remains found in the postholes and by radiometric
    determinations. There are few known stratigraphic relationships with
    other classes of monument to assist with dating.

    The tradition of constructing and using timber circles seems to have
    been confined to the later part of the Neolithic period. The only
    excavated discrete timber circle is the Sanctuary, near Avebury,
    Wiltshire where Peterborough ware, grooved ware and beaker wares
    together account for most of the pottery found, grooved ware being
    the most common kind represented. Similar assemblages of pottery
    have, however, been recovered from timber circles within henges and
    henge-enclosures, grooved ware again predominating.

    Radiocarbon dated timber circles are exclusively examples within
    henges and henge enclosures. The southern circle at Durrington Walls
    yielded three dates averaging 1950 RCYBC, Mount Pleasant gave three
    dates averaging 1995 RCYBC, and Woodhenge gave two dates averaging
    1836 RCYBC (Burl 1976, 31).

    Most timber circles show evidence for several phases of rebuilding
    and modification. At the Sanctuary there are generally thought to be
    four main phases to the structure, of which at least two can be
    identified as timber circles. It is also believed that the size of
    the timbers used to construct these monuments would have given each
    a lifespan of at least 100 years and perhaps as much as 200 years
    (cf. Wainwright & Longworth 1971, 225). This accords with the
    pottery evidence from excavated sites which certainly spans several
    centuries.

    There is no evidence for any chronological development within the
    class, or of any regionally specific dating.