Maumbury Rings has interested antiquarians from the 17th Century. The monument has three distinct phases of construction, each modifying or destroying part of its predecessor. 

The Modern Rings

Between 1642 and 1643, the earthwork was re-modelled as an artillery fort guarding the southern approach to Dorchester during the English Civil War.  The earthworks and open space around is now scheduled as an ancient monument.  Finds from excavation works are at the Dorset County Museum.

Late Neolithic Henge 

c2500 BC.  A large circular bank was made with a series of tapering shafts about 3m apart, and about 10m below ground level.  The spacing of the shafts suggests that there were 45 in total.  Eight shafts were fully excavated, four of which contained deer skulls and skull fragments. Carved chalk objects of the deer ragments show the importance of these deposits.

Roman Amphitheatre

In the 1st Century AD, the site was converted into amphitheatre, probably by the Roman Army. It is one of the largest in the Country.  Earthmoving operations were carried out to lower the enclosure by around 3m, with the material being  deposited over the Neolithic bank. The Amphitheatre was not used for long going out of use by AD 150.

Details of the Maumbury Rings page of the Visit Dorchester Visitor Guide 2008 is here : Maumbury Rings

Next you can go to the Maumbury Rings Image Gallery