Along Prehistoric Lines

Neolithic, Iron Age and Romano-British activity at the former MOD Headquarters, Durrington, Wiltshire

An excavation in 2010–12 on the site of the former Ministry of Defence (MoD) Headquarters in Durrington, Wiltshire, revealed evidence spanning the post-glacial to the post-medieval periods. It lies immediately north-east of the Stonehenge part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site. The significant discoveries made during the excavation include a relatively deeply buried Late Glacial Allerød soil, and a zone of Late Neolithic activity centred on a number of natural solution hollows, posthole alignments and pit groups. The Late Iron Age defences, probably constructed in the immediate pre-Conquest period and decommissioned soon after, influenced the layout of early Romano-British fields and settlement activity. This report describes the site, and places it in its local context. Reports on the finds, dating and environmental remains are also presented.