In the 1970's this site was totally destroyed by gravel quarrying. These operations are continuing to this day and are continuing to remove important archaeology over a widespread area.
This henge was one of only eight henges in Britain known as type 2A - two entrances and two sets of banks.
It's similarity to the Thornborough henges is striking - very similar size, form and entrances on the same alignment. Another similarity is that Peterborough Ware pottery was found.
The quarry company that destroyed this henge knew it was there - it was excavated in the 1950's, yet they totally destroyed it.
Today you cannot even walk over this sacred site - it is a lake.
Given the similar activities of quarry companies at Thornborough, one could be forgiven for thinking there was a deliberate attempt to remove these henges from the record books.
A henge monument at Dorchester on Thames, part of a complex of Neolithic and later monuments clustered around the cursus (SU 59 NE 5), and designated as site XIII within the complex. First recognised as a cropmark in 1927, some trenching was undertaken in 1951-2 (including complete excavation of sites XII and XIV). The excavations focused on the northern part of the site, but included examination of the southern entrance. The site comprises two concentric ditch circuits, with roughly opposed entrances to the north-northwest and south-southeast. The outer ditch has a maximum diameter of 193 netres, the inner of 125 metres. Few finds came from the outer ditch - some flints, plus a few Iron Age sherds. The inner ditch was a little more productive. Finds from primary contexts included Beaker sherds, struck flints and animal bones. Possible Peterborough Ware and Collared Urn sherds were also present in the ditch fill. A pit beside the north entrance dug into the inner ditch contained Beaker and Iron Age sherds. The ditch fills suggest the former presence of a bank between the ditches, and traces were found during excavations in this area. A pit beneath the bank material appears to have held a post. Features in the entrance areas may be related to restricting access or blocking but are of uncertain date. Very little was found in the interior area excavated. Site XIV was located between the inner and outer ditch circuits near the south entrance, while Site XII was located just outside the north entrance. Much of the area has since been destroyed by gravel extraction.
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