Tag:archaeological_site=enclosure

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Public-images-osm logo.svg archaeological_site = enclosure
Enclosure at Dowkabottom - geograph.org.uk - 2081832.jpg
Description
An enclosure in the archaeological sense is a historical space separated from its surroundings by a man made barrier.
Group: historic
Used on these elements
may be used on nodesshould not be used on waysmay be used on areas (and multipolygon relations)may be used on relations
Requires

historic=archaeological_site

Status: in use

An enclosure as an archaeological_site=* is a piece of land separated from its surroundings by a ditch, earthworks, palisade, wall or combination of those. They occur globally and can stem from a number of eras (historic:period=*) and civilizations (historic:civilization=*).

Mapping

On satellite imagery, enclosures can be recognized from crop marks (be careful not to confuse tractor marks with crop marks - compare satellite imagery!) or an enclosure formed by vegetation like scrubs or trees. Without further knowledge of the location, it is better to classify what you see as an enclosure[1] than to presume it to be something more specific like a henge, fortification_type=ringfort or graveyard. Later contributors might be able to "upgrade" the enclosure to something more specific.

When you have checked available sources for your area/ country and the location is not a recognized archaeological site, it might be worth contacting your local heritage authorities and report it to them.

References

  1. That is how the National Monuments Service in Ireland does it anyway.