Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (450 page)

Egyptian war god of Thebes, originally from Armant (Hermonthis), depicted as a hawk-headed man.

 
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In common usage the term is taken to mean any large artificial structure of archaeological interest. In England, Wales, and Scotland, however, there is also a legal usage. The
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979
defines a monument as being: ‘any building, structure or work above or below the surface of the land, any cave or excavation; any site comprising the remains of any such building, structure or work or any cave or excavation; and any site comprising, or comprising the remains of, any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other movable structure or part thereof…’ (S61(7)). See also
ANCIENT MONUMENT
.

 
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A large freestanding masonry structure, sometimes straddling a main road or thoroughfare, built in the form of a short length of wall pierced by one or more gateways. The faces of the arch are often decorated or ornamented with carvings and sculpture. Such arches were erected in the Roman world and later to celebrate and commemorate great events such as victory in battle.

 
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A large conical-shaped mound of earth and stone dating to the 2nd or 3rd millennium
bc
, often carefully constructed with internal revetments, surrounded by a substantial quarry ditch, and in some cases an outer bank. The whole structure is generally more than 150m in diameter, and most are associated with
HENGE ENCLOSURES
. The largest example in Britain in
SILBURY HILL
, Wiltshire.

 
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An initiative established by
ENGLISH HERITAGE
in 1986 to provide a systematic review of all recorded
MONUMENTS
in England with a view to identifying those of national importance and providing them with statutory protection through
SCHEDULING
or other appropriate mechanism.

 
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Communal meeting place specifically identified and set aside for courts and other bodies who dealt with the administration and organization of the countryside in Saxon and medieval times. They were located within the area of jurisdiction, usually a hundred, wapentake, or shire, at a convenient conspicuous or well-known place which might be marked by a natural feature such as a hill or large tree, or at a monument such as an earthen mound or standing stone. Some moots were established on existing barrows or within hillforts; in other cases a mound or structure was built for the purpose. Initially moots were held in the open air but through time many moved to halls and meeting houses within villages or urban centres. See also
THING
.

 
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