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Earthworks (archaeology)
 
 
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In archaeology
Archaeology

Archaeology, archeology, or arch?ology is the science that studies Homo cultures through the recovery, documentation, analysis, and interpretation of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, Artifact , features, Biofact s, and cultural landscape....
, earthworks are artificial changes in land level often known as 'lumps and bumps'. They can themselves be feature
Feature (archaeology)

Feature in archaeology and especially excavation has several different but allied meanings. A feature is a collection of one or more archaeological context representing some human non-portable activity that generally has a vertical direction characteristic to it in relation to site stratification ....
s or they can show features beneath the surface. Earthworks of interest to archaeologists include ancient fortifications such as hillforts, henge
Henge

A henge is a Prehistory architectural structure. In form, it is a nearly circular or oval-shaped flat area over 20 metres in diameter that is enclosed and delimited by a boundary Earthworks that usually comprises a ditch with an external bank....
s, mound
Mound

A mound is a general term for an artificial wikt:heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rock s, or debris. The most common use is in reference to natural earthen formation such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial....
s, long barrow
Long barrow

A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs....
s, tumuli
Tumulus

A tumulus is a mound of Soil and Rock s raised over a Grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, H?gelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world....
, ridge and furrow
Ridge and furrow

The term ridge and furrow is often used by archaeologists and others to describe the pattern of peaks and troughs created in a field by the system of ploughing used in Europe during the Middle Ages....
, motte
Motte

Motte may be:*Motte-and-bailey, a type of construction used in castles*Isaac Motte, an 18th century American statesman*La Motte, various places with this name...
s, round barrow
Round barrow

Round barrows are one of the most common types of archaeology monuments. Although concentrated in Europe they are found in many parts of the world because of their simple construction and universal purpose....
s and other tomb
Tomb

For the New York prison see The Tombs.A tomb is a repository for the remains of the death. The term generally refers to any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes....
s. Earthworks from deserted medieval village
Deserted medieval village

Deserted medieval village sites are abandoned village which have been abandoned for one reason or another over the years, usually leaving little but the remains of earthworks or cropmarks....
s can be used to determine the location, size, and layout of lost settlements.

Earthworks can vary in height from a few centimetres to the size of Silbury Hill
Silbury Hill

Silbury Hill is a 40-metre high man-made chalk mound near Avebury, Wiltshire in the England county of Wiltshire. The Hill lies at .Silbury Hill is the largest human-made earthen mound in Europe, and dates from the Neolithic period....
 at 40 metres.






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In archaeology
Archaeology

Archaeology, archeology, or arch?ology is the science that studies Homo cultures through the recovery, documentation, analysis, and interpretation of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, Artifact , features, Biofact s, and cultural landscape....
, earthworks are artificial changes in land level often known as 'lumps and bumps'. They can themselves be feature
Feature (archaeology)

Feature in archaeology and especially excavation has several different but allied meanings. A feature is a collection of one or more archaeological context representing some human non-portable activity that generally has a vertical direction characteristic to it in relation to site stratification ....
s or they can show features beneath the surface. Earthworks of interest to archaeologists include ancient fortifications such as hillforts, henge
Henge

A henge is a Prehistory architectural structure. In form, it is a nearly circular or oval-shaped flat area over 20 metres in diameter that is enclosed and delimited by a boundary Earthworks that usually comprises a ditch with an external bank....
s, mound
Mound

A mound is a general term for an artificial wikt:heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rock s, or debris. The most common use is in reference to natural earthen formation such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial....
s, long barrow
Long barrow

A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs....
s, tumuli
Tumulus

A tumulus is a mound of Soil and Rock s raised over a Grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, H?gelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world....
, ridge and furrow
Ridge and furrow

The term ridge and furrow is often used by archaeologists and others to describe the pattern of peaks and troughs created in a field by the system of ploughing used in Europe during the Middle Ages....
, motte
Motte

Motte may be:*Motte-and-bailey, a type of construction used in castles*Isaac Motte, an 18th century American statesman*La Motte, various places with this name...
s, round barrow
Round barrow

Round barrows are one of the most common types of archaeology monuments. Although concentrated in Europe they are found in many parts of the world because of their simple construction and universal purpose....
s and other tomb
Tomb

For the New York prison see The Tombs.A tomb is a repository for the remains of the death. The term generally refers to any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes....
s. Earthworks from deserted medieval village
Deserted medieval village

Deserted medieval village sites are abandoned village which have been abandoned for one reason or another over the years, usually leaving little but the remains of earthworks or cropmarks....
s can be used to determine the location, size, and layout of lost settlements.

Earthworks can vary in height from a few centimetres to the size of Silbury Hill
Silbury Hill

Silbury Hill is a 40-metre high man-made chalk mound near Avebury, Wiltshire in the England county of Wiltshire. The Hill lies at .Silbury Hill is the largest human-made earthen mound in Europe, and dates from the Neolithic period....
 at 40 metres. They can date from the neolithic
Neolithic

The Neolithic period was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 Before the Christian Era in the Middle East that is traditionally considered the last part of the Stone Age....
 through to last week. They can stretch for many tens of kilometres, e.g. Offa's Dyke
Offa's Dyke

Offa's Dyke is a massive linear Earthworks , roughly following some of Wales-England border between England and Wales. In places, it is up to 65 feet wide and 8 feet high....
.

Shallow earthworks are often more visible as cropmarks or in aerial photographs
Aerial photography

Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure....
 if taken when the sun is low in the sky and shadows are more pronounced. Similarly, earthworks may be more visible after a frost or a light dusting of snow. An accurate survey of the earthworks can enable them to be interpreted without the need for excavation
Excavation

The term archaeological excavation has a double meaning.# Excavation is the best known and most commonly used within the science of archaeology....
.