Editing Henge (section)

{{short description|Type of Neolithic earthwork}}
{{About|stone age earth and stone constructs|the film|Henge (film){{!}}''Henge'' (film)|henge in Japanese folklore |Yōkai{{!}}''Yōkai''|other uses}}
[[Image:Thornborough Henge.jpg|thumb|right|The three aligned henges of the [[Thornborough Henges]] complex]]
A '''henge''' can be one of three related types of [[Neolithic]] [[Earthworks (archaeology)|earthwork]].  The essential characteristic of all three is that they feature a ring-shaped bank and ditch, with the ditch inside the bank. Because the internal ditches would have served defensive purposes poorly, henges are not considered to have been defensive constructions (cf. [[circular rampart]]).

The three henge types (figures in brackets indicate the approximate diameter of the central flat area) are:
# '''Henge''' (> {{cvt|20|m|ft|round=5}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=Early Prehistoric Monuments - Henges|url=http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/mpp/mcd/sub/henges1.htm|publisher=English Heritage|access-date=27 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514050533/http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/mpp/mcd/sub/henges1.htm|archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>  The word ''henge'' refers to a particular type of earthwork of the Neolithic period, typically consisting of a roughly circular or oval-shaped bank with an internal ditch surrounding a central flat area of more than {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter. There is typically little if any evidence of occupation in a henge, although they may contain ritual structures such as [[stone circle]]s, [[timber circle]]s and [[Cove (standing stones)|coves]]. '''Henge monument''' is sometimes used as a synonym for henge. Henges sometimes, but by no means always, featured stone or timber circles, and '''circle henge''' is sometimes used to describe these structures. The three largest stone circles in Britain ([[Avebury]], the Great Circle at [[Stanton Drew stone circles]], and the [[Ring of Brodgar]]) are each within a henge. Examples of henges without significant internal monuments are the three henges of [[Thornborough Henges]]. Although having given its name to the word ''henge'', [[Stonehenge]] is atypical in that the ditch is outside the main earthwork bank.
# '''Hengiform monument''' ({{cvt|5|-|20|m|ft|round=5}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=Early Prehistoric Monuments - Hengi-Form Monuments |url=http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/mpp/mcd/sub/hg1.htm |publisher=English Heritage |access-date=27 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602212229/http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/mpp/mcd/sub/hg1.htm |archive-date=2 June 2013 }}</ref>  Like an ordinary henge, except the central flat area is between 5 and 20&nbsp;m (16–66&nbsp;ft) in diameter, they comprise a modest earthwork with a fairly wide outer bank. The terms '''mini-henge''' (also ''minihenge'') or '''Dorchester henge''' are sometimes used as synonyms for hengiform monument. An example is the Neolithic site at [[Wormy Hillock Henge]].
# '''Henge enclosure''' (> {{cvt|300|m|ft|round=50}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=Early Prehistoric Monuments - Henge Enclosure |url=http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/mpp/mcd/sub/henen1.htm |publisher=English Heritage |access-date=27 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602215010/http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/mpp/mcd/sub/henen1.htm |archive-date=2 June 2013 }}</ref>  A Neolithic ring earthwork with the ditch inside the bank, with the central flat area having abundant evidence of occupation and usually being more than {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter. Some true henges are as large as this (e.g., Avebury), but lack evidence of domestic occupation. '''Super-henge''' or ''superhenge'' is sometimes used as a synonym for a henge enclosure. Sometimes the term is used to indicate size alone rather than use, e.g. "[[Marden henge]]&nbsp;... is the least understood of the four British 'superhenges' (the others being [[Avebury]], [[Durrington Walls]] and [[Mount Pleasant Henge]])".<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Leary|first1=Jim|last2=Clarke|first2=Amanda|last3=Bell|first3=Martin|title=Valley of the henges|journal=Current Archaeology|date=July 2016|volume=XXVII, No. 4|issue=316|pages=28–34}}</ref>