| Summary : A henge located north of Rudston, circa 160 metres from the Gypsey Race stream and the cursus which runs north-south parallel with the stream. The henge was discovered as a cropmark on an aerial photograph in the early 1960s, although subsequent field investigation showed it to survive as an earthwork, albeit badly plough-damaged. The monument comprises a sub-circular enclosure of around 98 metres maximum external diameter, featuring a ditch with external bank. Two broadly opposing entrances, to the south east and the north west, are visible. A later small square barrow is visible as a cropmark within the henge, while another square barrow is visible to the north, and a ring ditch abuts the external southwestern side of the henge bank. Trial excavation in 1964 showed that little of the bank material remained unaffected by ploughing, with just 2 inches of compacted chalk rubble lying over the original ground surface. The bank was measured at circa 37 feet wide. The internal ditch was 38 feet wide, V-shaped in profile and very steep-sided, up to 13 feet 3 inches deep. No berm was observed in the excavations, although a narrow berm appears on aerial photographs. The primary ditch silts contained no finds. Beaker and Grooved Ware sherds were present in the secondary fill, while a single Roman sherd was found in the uppermost layers. Near the centre of the henge a small trench uncovered four post holes in a line, 2 of them containing Beaker sherds. A trench across the south-eastern entrance uncovered a causeway circa 50 feet wide, with the ditch terminals "somewhat" squared at the ends and steeply sloped. Further excavations were planned but do not appear to have taken place. It has been suggested that the name "Stodefald" (horse inclosure), recorded in 1299, refers to the henge. Maiden's Grave may also have served as the wapentake meeting place, during the Early Medieval period. |
More information : An oval henge at TA 097707. (1)
A class II henge- Maiden's Grave, 240ft x 290ft first found on RAF APs. The ditches now appear as shallow hollows about 1ft deep and the banks from 6 ins to 2 ft high. Two opposed entrances show as causeways across the ditch. A trial excavation in 1964, revealed that the bank was 37ft wide and almost entirely ploughed out. The internal ditch, 38ft wide and 13 ft 3 ins deep, had six periods of sitting. Sherds of Beaker and Neolithic (Peterborough) pottery were found in the second period of silting, and from the third period, a worn sherd of RB pottery. Trenches across the SE entrance showed the causeway to be 50ft wide. Further excavations are to be carried out. (2)
Centred TA 09677063. The site, on near-level ground, was part ploughed and part stubble at the time of inspection. Visible in part as a broad hollow, but too indefinite for survey. (3)
Additional references. (4-5)
Site possibly used as the wapentake meeting place, and it has been suggested that the name Stodefald, or `horse inclosure', recorded in 1299, may refer to Maiden's Grave. (6)
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