Rectangular Enclosures of the Bronze Age in the Upper Thames Valley

Abstract

Any evidence, however slight, that may throw light upon the age or purpose of many of the mysterious lines and enclosures revealed by air-photography cannot fail to be of service to future research. Some time ago Major G. W. Allen brought to my notice more than one instance of a remarkable type of rectangular enclosure in the valley of the Thames below Oxford, the age of which we were reluctant even to surmise in spite of their proximity to or association with other remains obviously belonging to the Bronze Age. Three at least of these enclosures had been detected; two in Oxfordshire, the one at Dorchester close to the huge circles described by Mr. O. G. S. Crawford, the other at Benson, and a third lying athwart the southern boundary on Drayton East Way between the parishes of Drayton and Sutton Courtenay, Berkshire. Something similar, but smaller (c. 300 yds. long and 10 yds. wide), with less accurately aligned ditches has been observed at North Stoke, Oxfordshire, amid numerous circles, one of which yielded last year a cremation and two interments, all of infants.