A Monument Class Description provides a synthesis and summary of the archaeological

Archaeology

Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...

 evidence for a particular type of British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 ancient monument. The Monument Class Descriptions were created by English Heritage

English Heritage

English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...

 as part of the Monuments Protection Programme.

Because archaeological remains are seldom good subjects for rigorous classification, these monument classes are regarded as provisional. However, they provide a good basis for beginning to understand the variability of the archaeological record in England.

Early Prehistoric Monuments

• Avenues (multi-period)
• Bank Barrows (multi-period)
  Bank barrow
  A bank barrow, sometimes referred to as a barrow-bank, ridge barrow, or ridge mound, is a type of tumulus first identified by O.G.S. Crawford in 1938....
  
  
• Bowl Barrows (multi-period)
  Bowl barrow
  Bowl Barrow is the name for a type of burial mound or tumulus. A barrow is a mound of earth used to cover a tomb. The bowl barrow gets its name from the fact that it looks like an upturned bowl...
  
  
• Causewayed Enclosures
  Causewayed enclosure
  A causewayed enclosure is a type of large prehistoric earthwork common to the early Neolithic in Europe. More than 100 examples are recorded in France and 70 in England, while further sites are known in Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Slovakia.The term "causewayed enclosure" is...
  
  
• Concentric Stone Circles
• Cup and Ring Marked Stones (multi-period)
  Cup and ring mark
  Cup and ring marks or cup marks are a form of prehistoric art found mainly in Atlantic Europe and Mediterranean Europe although similar forms are also found throughout the world including Mexico, Brazil, Greece, and India, where...
  
  
• Cursus
  Cursus
  thumb|right|250px|[[Stonehenge Cursus]], Wiltshirethumb|right|250px|[[Dorset Cursus]] terminal on Thickthorn Down, DorsetCursus was a name given by early British archaeologists such as William Stukeley to the large parallel lengths of banks with external ditches which they thought were early Roman...
  
  
• D-Shaped Barrows
• Enclosed Cremation Cemeteries (multi-period)
  Enclosed cremation cemetery
  Enclosed cremation cemetery is a term used by archaeologists to describe a type of cemetery found in north western Europe during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. They are similar to urnfield burial grounds in that they consist of a concentration of pits containing cremains which have...
  
  
• Entrance Graves (multi-period)
  Entrance grave
  Entrance grave is a term given by archaeologists to a type of megalithic chamber tomb found in parts of Atlantic Europe, dating the early to middle Bronze Age....
  
  
• Flint Mines
• Four Poster Stone Circles (multi-period)
  Four-poster
  Archaeologists refer to two different structures as a four-poster . The first is a type of stone setting found uniquely within the British Isles. They date from the Bronze Age and, as the name suggests, usually consist of four stones. Late Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman four-posters are square...
  
  
• Henge Enclosures
• Henge
  Henge
  There are three related types of Neolithic earthwork which are all sometimes loosely called henges. The essential characteristic of all three types is that they feature a ring bank and ditch but with the ditch inside the bank rather than outside...
  
  s
• Hengiform Monuments
• Inhumation Cemeteries (Prehistoric) (multi-period)
• Large Irregular Stone Circles (multi-period)
• Large Regular Stone Circles (multi-period)
• Long Barrows
  Long barrow
  A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal tumuli or earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs...
  
  
• Long Mortuary Enclosures
  Mortuary enclosure
  A mortuary enclosure is a term given in archaeology and anthropology to an area, surrounded by a wood, stone or earthwork barrier, in which dead bodies are placed for excarnation and to await secondary and/or collective burial...
  
  
• Long Mounds
• Monumental Mounds
• Oval Barrows
  Oval barrow
  An oval barrow is the name given by archaeologists to a type of prehistoric burial tumulus of roughly oval shape.In the British mid to late Neolithic and early Bronze Age, oval barrows may indicate a transition between earlier long barrows with multiple burials and the later, more individual round...
  
  
• Pit Circles
• Pond Barrows
• Round Barrow
  Round barrow
  Round barrows are one of the most common types of archaeological monuments. Although concentrated in Europe they are found in many parts of the world because of their simple construction and universal purpose....
  
   Cemeteries (multi-period)
• Simple Passage Graves
  Passage grave
  thumb|250px|right|A simple passage tomb in [[Carrowmore]] near [[Sligo]] in IrelandA passage grave or passage tomb consists of a narrow passage made of large stones and one or multiple burial chambers covered in earth or stone. Megaliths are usually used in the construction of passage tombs, which...
  
  
• Standing Stones (multi-period)
  Standing stone
  Standing stones, orthostats, liths, or more commonly megaliths are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties....
  
  
• Stone Alignments (multi-period)
  Stone row
  A stone row , is a linear arrangement of upright, parallel megalithic standing stones set at intervals along a common axis or series of axes, usually dating from the later Neolithic or Bronze Age. Rows may be individual or grouped, and three or more stones aligned can constitute a stone row...
  
  
• Stone Axe Factories (multi-period)
• Timber Circles
  Timber circle
  In archaeology, timber circles are circular arrangements of wooden posts interpreted as being either complexes of freestanding totem poles or as the supports for large circular buildings-British Isles:...
  
  
• Tor Cairns

Bronze Age

• Avenues (multi-period)
• Bank Barrows (multi-period)
  Bank barrow
  A bank barrow, sometimes referred to as a barrow-bank, ridge barrow, or ridge mound, is a type of tumulus first identified by O.G.S. Crawford in 1938....
  
  
• Bell Barrows
  Bell barrow
  A bell barrow, sometimes referred to as a Wessex type barrow, campanulate form barrow, or a bermed barrow is a type of tumulus identified as such by both John Aubrey and William Stukeley....
  
  
• Bowl Barrows (multi-period)
  Bowl barrow
  Bowl Barrow is the name for a type of burial mound or tumulus. A barrow is a mound of earth used to cover a tomb. The bowl barrow gets its name from the fact that it looks like an upturned bowl...
  
  
• Burnt Mounds
• Cairnfields
• Clothes Line Enclosures (multi-period)
• Coaxial Field Systems (multi-period) - see field systems
• Cross Dykes (multi-period)
• Cup and Ring Marked Stones (multi-period)
• Enclosed Cremation Cemeteries (multi-period)
• Entrance Graves (multi-period)
• Fancy Barrows
• Four Poster Stone Circles (multi-period)
• Hill Figures (multi-period)
• Hilltop Enclosures (multi-period)
• Inhumation Cemeteries (multi-period)
• Irregular Aggregate Field Systems (multi-period)
• Itford Hill Style Settlements
  Itford Hill Style Settlements (MCD)
  An Itford Hill Style Settlement is a form of later Bronze Age settlement found in southern England and named after the site of Itford Hill in East Sussex...
  
  
• Large Irregular Stone Circles (multi-period)
• Large Regular Stone Circles (multi-period)
• Linear Earthworks (multi-period)
• Martin Down Style Enclosures
• Multiple Enclosure Forts (multi-period)
• Rams Hill Style Enclosures
• Regular Aggregate Field Systems (multi-period)
• Ring Cairns
• Round Barrow Cemeteries (multi-period)
• Springfield Style Enclosures (multi-period)
• Standing Stones (multi-period)
• Stone Alignments (multi-period)
• Stone Circles---Small
• Stone Hut Circles
• Unenclosed Bronze Age Urnfields

Iron Age

• Banjo Enclosures
• Cliff Castles
• Clothes Line Enclosures (multi-period)
• Coaxial Field Systems (multi-period) - see field systems
• Cross Dykes (multi-period)
• Enclosed Oppida
• Gussage Style Settlements
• Hill Figures (multi-period)
  Hill figure
  A hill figure is a large visual representation created by cutting into a steep hillside and revealing the underlying geology. It is a type of geoglyph usually designed to be seen from afar rather than above. In some cases trenches are dug and rubble made from material brighter than the natural...
  
  
• Hilltop Enclosures (multi-period)
• Inhumation Cemeteries (multi-period)
• Irregular Aggregate Field Systems (multi-period)
• Irregular Open Field Systems (multi-period)
• Large Multivallate Hillforts
• Large Univallate Hillforts
• Later Prehistoric Ports
• Linear Earthworks (multi-period)
• Multiple Ditch Systems
• Multiple Enclosure Forts (multi-period)
• Regular Aggregate Field Systems (multi-period)
• Romano-Celtic Temples (multi-period)
• Rounds (multi-period)
• Springfield Style Enclosures (multi-period)
• Standing Stones (multi-period)
  Standing stone
  Standing stones, orthostats, liths, or more commonly megaliths are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties....
  
  
• Slight Univallate Hillforts
• Small Multivallate Hillforts
• Square Barrows
• Unenclosed iron Age Urnfields
• Viereckschanzen (multi-period)
• Wooton Hill Style Enclosures

Roman Monuments

• Aggregate Villages (Romano-British)
• Amphitheatres (Romano-British)
• Basilican Temples (Romano-British)
• Bridges (Romano-British)
• Canals (Romano-British)
• Cemeteries (Romano-British)
• Classical Temples
• Courtyard Houses
• Cross Dykes (multi-period)
• Curtain Frontier Works (Romano-British)
• Extraction Pits
• Farmsteads (Romano-British)
• Fort-Vici (Romano-British)
• Harbours (Romano-British)
• Ironworks
• Irregular Aggregate Field Systems (multi-period)
• Irregular Enclosed Field Systems (multi-period)
• Irregular Open Field Systems (multi-period)
• Major Villas
• Mausolea (Romano-British)
• Mines
• Pharoi
• Potteries
• Quarries (Romano-British)
• Regular Aggregate Field Systems
• Roads (Romano-British)
• Romano-Celtic Temples (multi-period)
• Roman Fishponds
• Roman Fortlets
• Roman Fortresses
• Roman Forts
• Rounds (multi-period)
• Romano-British Lime Kilns
• Romano-British Mansiones
• Romano-British Salterns
• Saxon Shore Forts
• Signal Stations
• Vineyards (multi-period)
• Viereckschanzen (multi-period)
• Watermills (Romano-British)

Early Medieval Monuments

• Animal Pounds
• Aristocratic Residences (Saxon)
• Barrow Fields
• Coaxial Field Systems (multi-period) - see field systems
• Colleges (multi-period)
• Cremation Cemeteries (Anglo-Saxon)
• Cross Dykes (multi-period)
• Double Houses (Pre-Conquest)
• Gate Bridge and Causeway Chapels (multi-period)
• Hermitages (multi-period)
• High Crosses
• Hlaews
• Inhumation Cemeteries (Anglo-Saxon)
• Irregular Enclosed Field Systems (multi-period)
• Irregular Open Field Systems (multi-period)
• Monastic Granges (multi-period)
• Moots (multi-period)
• Nuneries (multi-period)
• Palaces (Anglo-Saxon)
• Parish Churches (multi-period)
• Shrines (Post-Roman) (multi-period)
• Vineyards (multi-period)

Medieval Monuments

• Almshouses (multi-period)
• Aqueducts (Medieval)
• Archery Butts (multi-period)
• Artillery Castles (multi-period)
• Bastles (multi-period)
• Beacons (multi-period)
• Blockhouses (multi-period)
• Brickworks (Medieval)
• Camerae
• Chain Towers (multi-period)
• Charterhouses
• Clapper Bridges (multi-period)
• Cockpits (multi-period)
• Coastal Fish Weirs (multi-period)
• Colleges (multi-period)
• Cottages (multi-period)
• Coureries
• Cross Dykes (multi-period)
• Decoy Ponds (multi-period)
• Deerparks (multi-period)
• Double Houses (Post-Conquest)
• Dovecotes (multi-period)
• Earthen Artillery Defences (multi-period)
• Enclosure Castles
• Field Barns (multi-period)
• Field Works (multi-period)
• Fishponds (multi-period)
• Friaries
• Frontier Works
• Glassworks
• Hermitages (multi-period)
• Hospitals (multi-period)
• Ironworks
• Irregular Enclosed Field Systems (multi-period)
• Limekilns
• Magnates Residences
• Moats
• Motte and Bailey Castles
  Motte-and-bailey
  A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
  
  
• Motte Castles
• Monasteries- male (Post-Conquest)
• Monastic Granges (multi-period)
• Moots (multi-period)
• Multi-Span Bridges
• Nuneries (multi-period)
• Potteries (Medieval)
• Parish Churches (multi-period)
• Quadrangular Castles
• Regular Enclosed Field Systems (multi-period)
• Regular Open Field Systems
• Ringworks
• River Fisheries (multi-period)
• Roads
• Secular Cathedrals
• Shell Keeps
• Shielings
• Single Span Bridges
• Stockaded Enclosures
• Shrines (Post-Roman) (multi-period)
• Tower Keep Castles (multi-period)
• Trackways
• Vills
• Vineyards (multi-period)
• Warrens
  Warren (domestic)
  A domestic warren is an artificial, enclosed establishment of animal husbandry dedicated to the raising of rabbits for meat and fur. It evolved from the Anglo-Norman concept of free warren, which had been, essentially, the equivalent of a hunting license for a given woodland.-Architecture of the...
  
  
• Water Meadows
• Watermills
• Woods (multi-period)

Post Medieval Monuments

• Almshouses (multi-period)
• Animal Pounds
• Archery Butts (multi-period)
• Artillery Castles (multi-period)
• Bastles (multi-period)
• Beacons (multi-period)
• Blockhouses (multi-period)
• Cathedrals (Post-Reformation)
• Chain Towers (multi-period)
• Clapper Bridges (multi-period)
• Cockpits (multi-period)
• Coastal Fish Weirs (multi-period)
• Cottages (multi-period)
• Decoy Ponds (multi-period)
• Deerparks (multi-period)
• Dovecotes (multi-period)
• Earthen Artillery Defences (multi-period)
• Field Barns (multi-period)
• Field Works (multi-period)
• Fishponds (multi-period)
• Hospitals (multi-period)
• Ice Houses
• Irregular Enclosed Field Systems (multi-period)
• Martello Tower
  Martello tower
  Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards....
  
  s
• Mausolea
• Monastic Granges (multi-period)
• Non-Conformist Chapels
• Parish Churches (multi-period)
• Regular Enclosed Field Systems (multi-period)
• River Fisheries (multi-period)
• Tower Houses (multi-period)
• Tower Keep Castles (multi-period)
• Woods (multi-period)

External links

• English Heritage Monument Class Descriptions