Prehistoric Dorset (Bronze Age)

We're moving through time to the Bronze Age, well the end of the Neolithic in to Bronze Age, society is changing as are the settlement types, ritual monuments and burials. Dorset contains a number of Bronze Age monumental remains (particularly round barrows which are not represented in this post), we see the emergence of single standing stones, or linear stone setting and of course that most enigmatic of monument, the stone circle. 

First we have an isolated standing stone of a considerable size, the Kingston Russell Standing Stone. Set low in coombe below the extensive prehistoric landscape of Martin Down and Black Down towards the end of the Dorset Ridgeway (on private land behind some ostentatious black ironwork fencing and gates, but don't let that deter you, follow the nearby public footpath and easy access will become evident), the Kingston Russell Standing Stone is one of that mysterious class of monument, the isolated standing stone or monolith.  Very beginning of 2010; a Space Odyssey. The function of these monoliths is uncertain, although some may have celestial alignments, others may have formed markers on ceremonial ways where activities were performed as part of a protracted ritual, many have legends of healing associated with them, evidence of some folk memory maybe? Or just myths. What is known is that monoliths are not unique to the Bronze Age nor to Britain, with thousands identified around the world, suggesting something universal in this monument form. The Kingston Russell Standing Stone is of an impressive size and worth a visit, being obscured in its setting it's often overlooked.

Next, the Kingston Russell Stone Circle. First I have to say how disappointed, no, outraged I was at the condition of the site, cattle have been allowed to churn the site up, really doing some damage to the ground surface and if continued in time will seriously degrade the site (as with other archaeological sites, in the past its also seen ploughing too close to it). It doesn't take much thought. Enough though. The Kingston Russell Stone Circle lies about half a mile from the Neolithic long barrow of Grey Mare and her Colts, again on the Dorset Ridgeway. The 360 degree views are impressive, if any of the prehistoric practices at the site involved fire, it would have been visible for 10s of miles in all directions. The circle or rather oval-ish circle, comprises of 18 now recumbent stones, many of which are broken (there may more buried and the ones we can see might not be in their original positions), they are either of sarsen or some conglomerated stone which looks like lumps of pebble-dash, both types locally sourced, as I said it's an oval-ish shape of 27m at its largest.  I mentioned it's proximity to a Neolithic monument, stone circles appear first during the transition between the Neolithic and Bronze Age as new ritual and burial practices and material cultural items are embraced, a connection between the people associated with both sites is possible, distantly related group or family, or maybe it was just that that location in the landscape was significant. As with so much prehistory and prehistoric activity, it can only be hypothesized about, so let your imaginations run riot, no dragons though. There are two more stone circles locally at Hampton (2 miles east) and Nine Stones (4 miles north-east).  I like this site and in the past have spent some time just sitting (sometimes sleeping) within its bounds, a good spot for a picnic too. Lovely.