Recently discovered Crowland henge is of ‘truly monumental proportions’

The archaeologist who helped to uncover one of the largest prehistoric monuments found in the eastern region says the site has national significance.

Dr Duncan Wright was part of a team which had excavated a field on the outskirts of Crowland to uncover previously unknown Late Neolithic or early Bronze Age henge along with its later use by the Anglo Saxons and the church.

Anchor Church Field has revealed some of its secrets with the discovery of the henge and its timber circle along with a wide variety of material but how it was used by our Anglo Saxon ancestors does remain a mystery – and if it had been occupied by St Guthlac.

Dr Wright, who is a lecturer in Medieval Archaeology at Newcastle University, is hoping to present the findings from his work to locals and also feels it would be good to have a display in the historic Crowland Abbey.

He said: “The henge is the fascinating thing for us and the reuse of the site.

“We have a big historical henge which is very rare in the east of England. You get them in Wessex and Hampshire but on the edge of the fens you don’t get ones of the same size.

“It is an important pre-historical location which probably would have been used episodically through the year and ceremonial use. It goes through a period of not being used after the Bronze Age. We did find bronze age posts in a circle in the henge.

“After that it seemed to go out of use and then in the seventh and eighth Century AD that is when we see it reused.

“The henge would have been visible and would have been recognisable and Anglo Saxons re-occupied it and it goes through different uses - and that is fascinating.

“It is rare that Anglo Saxons made use of the henge. We don’t have many reuse examples.

“For us it was a little bit frustrating as we don’t know exactly know how the Anglo Saxons were reusing it. Lots of objects and vessel glass which you only get from elite sites. Whatever was going on it had an elite high status use.

“I think it has national significance with this reuse of a prehistoric monument. You see it across Western Europe but Crowland has the added interest of Guthlac.

“Interesting that Guthlac chose Crowland to become a hermit. We didn’t find evidence that Guthlac occupied the site.”

The paper, Sacred Landscapes and Deep Time: Mobility, Memory, and Monasticism on Crowland, which was written by Dr Wright and Hugh Willmott, refers to the henge as being of ‘truly monumental proportions’.

Dr Wright said: “It was so big we never got to find the bottom of it.”

The paper also states that a timber circle and barrows were added in the middle Bronze Age. The archaeologists found a wide range of material including roman mosiac tiles.

In the 12th century, a large hall and chapel had been built on the site by Crowland Abbey.

He said: “I think it will good to have a permanent or semi permanent display in the abbey. We are keen to share the work with a presentation or lecture and the abbey would be the perfect venue.”

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