Information for record number MWA19188:
Possible prehistoric enclosure, Meer Hill, Loxley

Summary A cropmark, seemingly of two parallel ditches with a rounded end, runs across a cultivated field at Meer Hill, Loxley. The site is potentially of prehistoric origin; but little artefactual evidence has been recovered in its vicinity.
What Is It?  
Type: Enclosure, Cursus?
Period: Neolithic (4000 BC - 2201 BC)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Loxley
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 24 53
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection Local
Description

  
Source Number  

1 A cropmark is visible on a single layer of Google Earth imagery, consisting of two parallel ditches, c.20m apart with a rounded terminal at the NE end. These run to the SW, continuing over a field boundary but are not visible in the adjacent field. This feature was first reported by A. Dobedoe, of Meer Hill, Loxley. They are not visible on any other Google Earth layer other than in 2007.
2 A biref site visit was conducted to this site on 08/03/2014, to evaluate its potential, and to evaluate a small collection of flint made by the landowners. The cropmark sits on a slight but noticeable rise within the field. During unsystematic fieldwalking, only a single further core was recovered, with another core having been previously recovered from the site. The odd fragment of burnt flint was also noted but not retained. The evidence is inconclusive, and it will be of interest if any further artefacts are recorded from the site. On morphological grounds, this feature bears superficial similarity with the cursus monuments identified in the county, such as the cursus at Charlecote.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Internet Data
Title: Google Earth Aerial and Street View
Author/originator: Google Earth
Date: 1945-present
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Giles Carey
Author/originator: G Carey
Date: 2009-2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Cropmark Cropmarks appear as light and dark marks in growing and ripening crops. These marks relate to differences in the soil below. For example, parched lines of grass may indicate stone walls. Crops that grow over stone features often ripen more quickly and are shorter than the surrounding crop. This is because there is less moisture in the soil where the wall lies.

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period Prehistoric About 500,000 BC to 42 AD

The Prehistoric period covers all the periods from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Iron Age.
This is a time when people did not write anything down so there is no documentary evidence for archaeologists to look at. Instead, the archaeologists look at the material culture belonging to the people and the places where they lived for clues about their way of life.

The Prehistoric period is divided into the Early Prehistoric and Later Prehistoric.
The Early Prehistoric period covers the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods.
The Later Prehistoric period covers Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age times.
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period Neolithic About 4000 BC to 2351 BC

The word ‘Neolithic’ means ‘New Stone Age’. Archaeologists split up the Neolithic period into three phases; early, middle and late. The Neolithic period comes after the Mesolithic period and before the Bronze Age.

People in the Neolithic period hunted and gathered food as their ancestors had but they were also began to farm. They kept animals and grew crops. This meant that they were able to settle more permanently in one location instead of constantly moving from place to place to look for food.
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monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument CURSUS * A long narrow rectangular earthwork enclosure of Neolithic date, usually defined by a bank and ditch and presumed to be of ceremonial function. Known examples range in length from less than 100m to c.10km. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument FIELD BOUNDARY * The limit line of a field. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record