Monument record MDO7915 - Studland Circles

A group of seventy-one enigmatic circles (for six similar circles at SZ 021843 see SZ 08 SW 51) occur on the heath of south Haven peninsula, west of the ferry road. Most have single banks about 1ft high and 9ft-27ft across forming rather irregular circles; the interiors are slightly dished but are almost all horizontal. Diameters between the crests vary from 36ft - 125ft and ten circles have narrow gaps in them. One or two circles with relatively deep interiors may have been ponds but the function and date of the remainder is unknown. The group is associated with thirteen low sandy mounds but these have also defied explanation and in the centre of the peninsula is a straight line of five regularly placed stones (shown on OS 6" 1963), originally standing upright, with a sixth to the north west of the line.

Bowen, H C and Fowler, P J, 1963, Earthwork Circles and Mounds on Studland Heath, Dorset (Article in serial). SWX3353.

Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey (Index). SDO147.

Bellamy, P, 2008, Baseline Survey of Earthworks on Studland Peninsula, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO17158.

Bellamy, P, 2011, Studland Circles: interim report on sample excavation of Circle SH10 (Unpublished document). SDO17157.

Record last edited

Jun 21 2021 1:21PM