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Dorset CursusThe Dorset Cursus is a Neolithic cursus monument near Blandford in the English county of Dorset. It dates to the fourth millennium BC. It is the largest known example of its type, stretching for 9.7km across the landscape. The two parallel earth banks that constituted the upstanding part of the cursus are 82m apart and but are almost completely invisible from the ground. It is best appreciated from the air where it can be seen as cropmarks. The terminal ends of the cursus were built of more substantial banks and these survive to heights of up to 1.5m. Its course is generally straight meaning that it ignores the presence of topographic features. One bank however is quite regular whilst the other meanders. It appears to have been part of a ritual landscape; numerous barrows are located at either end and along its length. Two long barrows are located close to the south western end at Thickthorn Down; one bank exhibits a dogleg where it circuits around the pre-existing barrow. A bank barrow, several ploughed-out long barrows and a mortuary enclosure are also known at the north eastern end. The north east to south west alignment has led to suggestions of solar alignments for the monument. Later Bronze Age sites such as the barrow cemetery at Oakely Down appear to have respected the presence of the cursus. Archaeological excavation of the eastern ditch indicated that it was permitted to silt up rapidly and may therefore have fallen out of use quite soon after being built before being re-appropriated by later peoples.
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