"The group of Late Neolithic henge monuments at Knowlton is generally recognised as one of the five most important enclosure complexes in Wessex at this time (Renfrew 1973; Wainwright 1989). These complexes consist primarily of massive earthwork enclosures up to 480m across, and often associated with other Late Neolithic monuments such as timber circles and monumental mounds. The importance of these complexes is demonstrated by their continued role in the Early Bronze Age when they became the focus for round barrow cemeteries. Nonetheless, despite their obvious significance, their function remains poorly understood.

Their role as the effective centres of Wessex have been stressed by several authors (Bradley and Chapman 1986; Wainwright 1989, 147), whilst it has also been noted that they may have acted in the maintenance of relations with other distant communities via the axe trade (Bradley 1984, 54). In terms of the activities which occurred within the henge enclosures, Burgess (1980, 326) argues that the Wessex henges may have held a permanent population of holy men or retainers to a chief. This view is supported by Mackie (1981) who goes a stage further by suggesting that we should compare the large henges of Wessex as being similar to Early Christian monastic sites, combining a ritual role with the domestic life of a resident population. The idea of both a domestic and a ritual role to henge enclosures appears to be supported by the evidence recovered from excavation at Durrington Walls, although the excavators were more cautious in their interpretations (Wainwright and Longworth 1971)."

From the University of Bournemouth website. (© Bournemouth University)

"Fieldwork was carried out during August and September 1994 as part of Bournemouth University's ongoing research into the late Neolithic henge monuments of Knowlton Rings. Work comprised geophysical survey, contour survey, and sample excavation of the Southern Circle. This is the largest henge in the complex, and the fifth largest in Wessex, with a ditch within a bank, with a diameter of 220m. A trench 3mx30m was excavated across a badly damaged portion of the bank in the hope of retrieving environmental and dating evidence. This revealed that the bank had frequently been cut by ploughing, and survived at most to a height of 0.2m. Nonetheless, sections of well-preserved buried soil were located, and within this was a considerable quantity of waste flint."

From the English Heritage website. (© English Heritage)