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Difficulty: MediumPrehistoric and Ancient Heritage Sites

In the county of Wiltshire, which prehistoric site is notable for being the largest stone circle in the United Kingdom and is unique for having part of a modern village built within its boundaries?

  1. AveburyAnswer
  2. B
    Stonehenge
  3. C
    Skara Brae
  4. D
    Maiden Castle

Answer

Avebury is the correct answer as it is the largest prehistoric stone circle in the UK and contains part of a village within its henge.
The prehistoric site of Avebury in Wiltshire is indeed the largest stone circle in the UK. It is distinguished from other sites by its massive henge bank and ditch which encloses a 28-acre area containing a large outer stone circle and two smaller inner circles. Crucially, the modern village of Avebury is partially situated within the prehistoric monument.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key geographic and structural descriptors.
The question specifies a prehistoric site in Wiltshire that is a 'stone circle' and 'the largest in the UK'.
This narrows the search to major megalithic monuments in southern England.
2
Differentiate between the two major stone circles in Wiltshire.
Stonehenge is the most famous, but Avebury is significantly larger in diameter and surrounds part of a local village.
Structural scale and the presence of a modern settlement are the primary distinguishing features.
3
Verify the location and type of other key prehistoric sites.
Skara Brae is in Orkney (Scotland) and Maiden Castle is in Dorset (hill fort), making them incorrect based on the county and site type.
Eliminating options based on geography and monument classification confirms the choice.

Key Concept

Identifying major prehistoric stone circles and their unique characteristics.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Prehistoric and Ancient Heritage Sites

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