To the north-west of the Great Cursus and over 7000 feet distant from
Stonehenge, is an earthwork apparently the beginning of a second cursus.
It is ill defined, and at 1200 feet from its enclosed end the ditches
cease. It appears to be an abandoned scheme for an enclosure similar to
the Cursus.
From “Stonehenge,” Mr. Edgar Barclay. At page 66 he says:—“The Cursus is
irregular in shape, nevertheless there remains a very strong probability
that it is an adjunct of Stonehenge, and was designed with it, and is not
an independent earthwork as Sir R. Colt Hoare maintains.”
From Mr. J. F. Hewitt’s “Ruling Races of Pre-historic Times”:—“A
hippodrome can still be traced about half a mile north of the Temple,
with which it is connected by an avenue about forty cubits wide. This is
divided into two branches, about 1700 feet from the Temple, the eastern
hand going eastward to Radfin, a ford on the Avon, and the western
curving round to the ancient chariot-course. It was here the seasonal
games took place, said by Macrobius to have been celebrated by the
Druids, when sacrifices were offered to the gods. This ancient _campus
martius_, running east and west, is about 10,000 feet or 6000 Druidical
cubits long, and 350 feet or 200 Druidical cubits wide, and on the east
side is a long bank, extending nearly its whole length, which must have
served as a place for spectators; while on the west side is a curve to
allow for the turning of the competing chariots. There can be no doubt
whatever that this racecourse represents the ancient site of the national
games; instituted by the Sons of the Horse, which are said in Greek
tradition to have been founded by Akastus, king of Iolcus, after he had
driven out Jason and Medea the sorceress.”