Category Archives: Cursus Monuments

These are very old (early to mid-neolithic) and very large linear features stretching across the landscape, irrespective of natural obstacles, running (sometimes) dead straight for anything between a few hundred yards to several miles. ‘Alignments’ appear to be one of the primary features of this type of monument, which seem to be related to early long-barrows and tombs. The notion of their relationship with water and death is likely. Modern archaeo-speculation links them with stellar, solar and lunar alignments. They were very likely ceremonial causeways with multifunctional use. The word ‘cursus’ was first used to describe these giant monuments by Will Stukeley in the 17th century – after the notion that they might have been old horse-racing courses; but from Stukeley onwards, very little was said about them (apart from occasional essays in specialist journals) until the late 20th century. Independent archaeologist and psychoanthropology writer, Paul Devereux (1989), wrote one of the first concise surveys of cursus monuments; since then perhaps the best overview has been Roy Loveday’s 2006 work, showing their mythic relationships with death and certain topographical features (ideas propounded by Devereux years earlier).