Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (304 page)

A term popularized by Anthony Harding to describe the large and rather irregular henges found in small numbers on the chalklands of southern England, especially Durrington Walls, Wiltshire, and Mount Pleasant, Dorset. All are situated in relatively low-lying positions, mainly in river valleys. In contrast to the classic henges they typically yield large amounts of domestic debris including pottery, animal bone, and flintwork. They may have been occupation sites or ceremonial centres or a combination of both. All date to the 3rd millennium
bc
.

 
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A very small henge-like structure, typically less than 15m across, with a ditch and often some traces of an outer bank. Examples with one or two entrances are known. Some were constructed as a series of pits rather than with a continuous ditch. In the central area there are often pits and cremation burials. They are found throughout the British Isles in much the same areas as classic henges; indeed hengiforms are frequently associated with clusters of contemporary late Neolithic monuments such as curs
s, pit circles, timber circles, and classic henges.

 
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Jutish mercenary leader who according to the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
was invited by Vortigern to settle southeast England together with his brother Horsa . There is much uncertainty about whether Hengist ever came to Kent and if so when. Hengist is believed to have died
c.
ad 488.

 
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A substantial promontory sandwiched between Christchurch Harbour and Bournemouth Bay on the coast of central southern England that was a major trading port in later prehistoric times. Excavations by J. P. Bushe-Fox in 1911–12, St George Gray in 1918–24, and Barry Cunliffe between 1979 and 1984 have revealed something of the complexity of the site which is defended by a pair of substantial ramparts cutting off the headland. Between about 300 bc and ad 100 Hengistbury was the focus of cross-channel trade between Britain and France. The headland had been occupied much earlier too, with an Upper Palaeolithic (Creswellian) open-air settlement on the hill in the centre of the Head which, when it was occupied in about 10500 bc, would have overlooked a big river valley where the English Channel now lies.
[Rep.: B. Cunliffe , 1987,
Hengistbury Head, Dorset
, volume 1.
The prehistoric and Roman settlement 3500 bc–ad 500
. Oxford. Oxford University Committee for Archaeology]

 
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English king from ad 1100, of the House of Normandy. Born 1068, fourth son of William I. Married (1) Edith or Matilda , daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland; (2) Adela , daughter of Godfrey , count of Louvain. Died in ad 1135, aged 67, having reigned 35 years.

 
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