Enclosed cremation cemetery
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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.
Description
Enclosed cremation cemeteries are similar to urnfield burial grounds in that they consist of a concentration of pits containing cremated remains which have usually also been placed into pottery vessels. However they are also surrounded by a circular or oval bank and outer ditch which gives them their name.
Example sites
The most famous example is Stonehenge which functioned as such a cemetery during its early use when it was a simple earthwork enclosure. Its status has been questioned as its not clear that that was its only use at the time.{{cite web |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/iha-pre-christian-cemeteries/heag214-pre-christian-cemeteries/ |title=Pre-Christian Cemeteries |last=Barber |first=Martyn |date=October 2018 |website=historicengland.org.uk |publisher=Historic England |page=3|access-date=2 February 2024 }}
Interpretation
Enclosed cremation cemeteries are interpreted as being variations on the ritual and funerary practice of enclosing significant sites of activity during the period, also exhibited by henges and stone circles.