Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (219 page)

 
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The late Iron Age tribe that formed a close-knit confederacy of smaller units occupying Wessex and the south coast of England west of the Solent. During the period from 100 to 60 bc the Durotriges were heavily involved in cross-channel trade with northern France through Poole harbour and Hengistbury. After 60 bc, however, trading patterns changed and the Durotriges were no longer so closely involved. Their coinage was impoverished, and they do not seem to have developed
oppidum
-style settlements. Hillforts still dominated the settlement pattern up until the conquest and when the Romans did arrive the tribe fought piecemeal.

 
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A late Neolithic henge enclosure in the valley of the River Avon northwest of Stonehenge dated to the middle part of the 3rd millennium
bc
. Excavated by Geoffrey Wainwright in 1966–8 showed that it comprised a large sub-oval banked enclosure over 450m across with an external bank and internal ditch. There were two opposed entrances, the one to the southeast providing access to the river. Inside, the excavations revealed a series of massive circular timber structures represented by postholes. The two examined had both been rebuilt several times over the same spot. The excavator suggests that these were large roofed structures, but other interpretations are possible. Finds included much grooved ware pottery. The animal bones indicate that many pigs were consumed on the site and it has been suggested that feasting was one of the main activities carried out at the largest of the two structures investigated.
[Rep.: G. J. Wainwright and I. Longworth , 1971,
Durrington Walls: excavations 1966–1968
. London: Society of Antiquaries]

 
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See
DUCES
.

 
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A linear earthwork comprising a bank or ditch, or both.

 
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A line of rulers whose right to power is inherited.

 
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