The Bull Ring
Encyclopedia
The Bull Ring is a Class II henge
that was built in the late Neolithic
period near Dove Holes
in Derbyshire
, England
.
It has coordinates 53.300695°N 1.884423°W
, and is National Monument number 23282. There are also two barrows
about 20m away from the henge; one oval, one bowl.
The henge consists of a large, circular earthwork
, which is currently about 1m high and 9-11m wide; however it was originally 2m high and 5.5-7m wide. The henge has a ditch
on the inside, which varies between 0.5 to 1 metres deep and 8 to 12 metres wide; it was originally 1.2-2.1m deep and 5-6.5m wide. The ditch and bank are separated by a berm
, which was originally 5m wide. It encloses an area 53 (N
-S
) by 46 (E
-W
) metres, with entrances to the north and south, each of which have a causeway
across the ditch. A skeleton was reputedly found near the north entrance; this entrance was also damaged in the 19th century by quarrying. The centre of the henge was plough
ed in the 18th century; a drystone wall was also built across the site during the same era.
A single standing stone (orthostat) was recorded as remaining in 1789 by Pilkington, potentially the remnant of a stone circle. It has been suggested that stones from the henge were used as sleepers
for the Peak Forest Tramway
circa 1790.
A minor excavation was carried out in the west ditch in 1902; this reputedly discovered some pottery shards and flint flakes, which have since been lost. A trial excavation by Oxford University Archaeological Society
in 1949 established that the ring has two entrances, and also provided information about the original size of the bank and ditch. However, it did not provide any evidence of stones on the site. The excavation also turned up flint flakes, as well as a rim from a pottery food vessel.
A third excavation was carried out in 1984 outside the south entrance, which found further flint flakes and pottery, as well as discovering several pits as well as stakeholes of a fence following the henge bank, which are potentially original features of the hence. Most recently, Magnetometer
and earth resistance
surveys were carried out in 2000, with no conclusive results.
The oval barrow
to the south-west of the hence is about 27x21m, and is approximately 2.5m high. It was constructed some time in the early to mid Neolithic period. A later (late Neolithic to late Bronze Age
) bowl barrow
is superimposed on it. The summit of the oval barrow was disturbed by a World War II
slit trench; the edges of the barrow have also been disturbed by ploughing as well as a drystone wall, which has subsequently been removed. The barrow has not been excavated.
Henge
There are three related types of Neolithic earthwork which are all sometimes loosely called henges. The essential characteristic of all three types is that they feature a ring bank and ditch but with the ditch inside the bank rather than outside...
that was built in the late Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period near Dove Holes
Dove Holes
Dove Holes is a village in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England. It has a population of about 1,200. It straddles the A6 road and it lies three miles from Buxton and three miles from Chapel-en-le-Frith. Trains run from Dove Holes railway station into Manchester.Residents of the village...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It has coordinates 53.300695°N 1.884423°W
, and is National Monument number 23282. There are also two barrows
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
about 20m away from the henge; one oval, one bowl.
The henge consists of a large, circular earthwork
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
, which is currently about 1m high and 9-11m wide; however it was originally 2m high and 5.5-7m wide. The henge has a ditch
Ditch (fortification)
A ditch in military engineering is an obstacle, designed to slow down or break up an attacking force, while a trench is intended to provide cover to the defenders...
on the inside, which varies between 0.5 to 1 metres deep and 8 to 12 metres wide; it was originally 1.2-2.1m deep and 5-6.5m wide. The ditch and bank are separated by a berm
Berm
A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...
, which was originally 5m wide. It encloses an area 53 (N
North
North is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.North is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the top side of a map is north....
-S
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
) by 46 (E
East
East is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.East is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of west and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the right side of a map is east....
-W
West
West is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the left side of a map is west....
) metres, with entrances to the north and south, each of which have a causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
across the ditch. A skeleton was reputedly found near the north entrance; this entrance was also damaged in the 19th century by quarrying. The centre of the henge was plough
Plough
The plough or plow is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture...
ed in the 18th century; a drystone wall was also built across the site during the same era.
A single standing stone (orthostat) was recorded as remaining in 1789 by Pilkington, potentially the remnant of a stone circle. It has been suggested that stones from the henge were used as sleepers
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
for the Peak Forest Tramway
Peak Forest Tramway
The Peak Forest Tramway was an early horse- and gravity-powered industrial railway system in Derbyshire, England. Opened for trade on 31 August 1796, it remained in operation until the 1920s. Much of the route and the structures associated with the line remain...
circa 1790.
A minor excavation was carried out in the west ditch in 1902; this reputedly discovered some pottery shards and flint flakes, which have since been lost. A trial excavation by Oxford University Archaeological Society
Oxford University Archaeological Society
Oxford University Archaeological Society is a society at the University of Oxford, which promotes matters of archaeological interest through lectures, excursions and fieldwork. Its membership is not restricted to students, although it is generally run by undergraduate and graduate members of the...
in 1949 established that the ring has two entrances, and also provided information about the original size of the bank and ditch. However, it did not provide any evidence of stones on the site. The excavation also turned up flint flakes, as well as a rim from a pottery food vessel.
A third excavation was carried out in 1984 outside the south entrance, which found further flint flakes and pottery, as well as discovering several pits as well as stakeholes of a fence following the henge bank, which are potentially original features of the hence. Most recently, Magnetometer
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of a magnetic field either produced in the laboratory or existing in nature...
and earth resistance
Electrical resistance
The electrical resistance of an electrical element is the opposition to the passage of an electric current through that element; the inverse quantity is electrical conductance, the ease at which an electric current passes. Electrical resistance shares some conceptual parallels with the mechanical...
surveys were carried out in 2000, with no conclusive results.
The oval barrow
Oval barrow
An oval barrow is the name given by archaeologists to a type of prehistoric burial tumulus of roughly oval shape.In the British mid to late Neolithic and early Bronze Age, oval barrows may indicate a transition between earlier long barrows with multiple burials and the later, more individual round...
to the south-west of the hence is about 27x21m, and is approximately 2.5m high. It was constructed some time in the early to mid Neolithic period. A later (late Neolithic to late Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
) bowl barrow
Bowl barrow
Bowl Barrow is the name for a type of burial mound or tumulus. A barrow is a mound of earth used to cover a tomb. The bowl barrow gets its name from the fact that it looks like an upturned bowl...
is superimposed on it. The summit of the oval barrow was disturbed by a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
slit trench; the edges of the barrow have also been disturbed by ploughing as well as a drystone wall, which has subsequently been removed. The barrow has not been excavated.