Site of Shearman's Wath Henge (also known as West Ashby Henge)
Although there remains
nothing to see on the ground this is nevertheless an important site in the understanding
and unfolding story of prehistoric Lincolnshire. It was first discovered by the
aerial photography of crop marks in the 1970's that revealed a slightly oval area
measuring about 25 metres in diameter surrounded by a 2 metre wide segmented ditch
with entrances to the northwest and southeast, making this a Class II
henge. No trace of the external bank that we might expect to find associated
with this type of monument has been found but we could reasonably assume that
this would have extended the size of the monument by another 2-3 metres on either
side. Just beyond this proposed bank was discovered a ring of 24 pits or post
holes, whether these were originally left as pits, perhaps for ceremonial offerings,
or used to support wooden posts is not known at present but an extract from English
Heritage's scheduling report of the site tantalisingly suggests that they may
have held standing stones. Personally I think this is highly unlikely as there
appears to be almost no tradition of the use of stone within Lincolnshire (or
at least no surviving evidence) - it is not used at other sites, so why here,
and where would this stone have come from?
Looking at aerial photographs of the site shows what looks like the dried remains of a stream or river just to the east of the current course of the River Bain - was this the original course of the river? If so then the henge was closer to the Bain than it is now and this might strengthen the argument that this site was somehow linked to other sites that could be associated with the Bain such as Grim's Mound and Ludford Barrow further north.
Glossary Items: Neolithic, Bronze Age
Looking at aerial photographs of the site shows what looks like the dried remains of a stream or river just to the east of the current course of the River Bain - was this the original course of the river? If so then the henge was closer to the Bain than it is now and this might strengthen the argument that this site was somehow linked to other sites that could be associated with the Bain such as Grim's Mound and Ludford Barrow further north.
Glossary Items: Neolithic, Bronze Age
