Originally thought to be a Neolithic long barrow, this site was proved by excavation to be the downhill half of a circular Roman earthwork, possibly an amphitheatre. It was excavated by the writer, assisted by her husband, Major H. L. Vatcher, on behalf of the Ministry of Works from April to July 1959.
Ploughing over the area as a whole for many years had considerably blurred the outlines of the earthwork, almost levelling the uphill half of the circle which was visible only at certain times and in certain lights, and had caused a great deal of hill-wash to accumulate in the hollow central part, while the bank of the excavated half had also been considerably spread and reduced in height.