Devil's Quoits Excavations, Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire : Archaeology

Excavations at the Devil's Quoits, Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire 1972-3 and 1988

By A Barclay, M Gray and G Lambrick

Published by Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1995. First Edition. Large glossy softcover book with 138 pages. Illustrated.

A good clean copy throughout. No names or writing.

This report describes three seasons of excavation conducted in advance of gravel extraction in 1972,1973 and 1988 on the Devil's Quoits circle-henge monument near Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire. Evidence has been recovered for the total plan, including the extent of the ditches and the positions of the standing stones, while the probable area and character of the external bank are known from the excavations of W F Grimes in 1940. Sections were cut through the ditch to establish its stratigraphy in 1972 and 1973. In 1988 a further study was made of the interior, including stoneholes which had been inaccessible in the earlier excavations. Finds contemporary with the use of the monument include struck flint and animal bone but very little pottery. Iron Age, Roman and medieval material was recovered from later deposits. The sediments and soils in the henge ditch are analysed. The character and the interpretation of the monument, including its possible manner of construction are discussed, as is the available environmental evidence. The destruction of the stone circle, the erosion of the bank and the silting of the henge ditch are described.