Of interest to antiquaries since the 17th century, the earthworks and the surrounding open space are now scheduled as an ancient monument and finds from the excavation works on the site are displayed in the Dorset County Museum.

The Late Neolithic (Stone Age) site was a circular henge surrounded by an enourmous bank of chalk 3.4m high with a single entrance to the north-east. A series of 45 circular chalk pits, some of which were over 4m (12 feet) wide and 10m (30 feet) deep formed an irregular and discontinuous ditch within the bank (eight of the shafts have been fully excavated and their spacing suggests that there were fourty-five in total). The shafts were deliberately infilled and excavations found four of them them to contain bones, deer skulls and skull fragments, tools and chalk phalli.

The Romans utilized the site, ancient in their time, to make an amphitheatre (one of the largest in Britain) for the nearby town of Durnovaria (modern Dorchester) to the north by removing a 3m (10 foot) thickness of chalk from the central portion to make an oval area of 58 by 48m. The work was probably carried out by the Roman army in the first century AD. They removed the spoil outside the Neolithic bank to make the external diameter over 100m (300 feet).

Maumbury Rings is just to the north-east of the junction of Weymouth Avenue and South Court Avenue
RAIL
Dorchester South Station (0.3 km - 0.2miles)
Dorchester West Station

TOWNS & VILLAGES
	Charminster   Dorset, England	2.6 km NE
	Dorchester   Dorset, England	0.6 km N
	Stinsford   Dorset, England	2.8 km NW
	Whitcombe   Dorset, England	2.9 km SW
	Winterborne Came   Dorset, England	2.4 km SW
	Winterborne Herringston   Dorset, England	1.9 km S
	Winterborne Monkton   Dorset, England	2.1 km SE

OTHER PLACES
	High West Street   Dorchester, Dorset The display rooms tell the story of local wildlife, rocks and fossils, archaeology, and Dorset writers including Thomas Hardy. In the atmospheric Victorian gallery you can see the story of Maiden Castle and walk on Roman mosaics.	0.6 km N
	Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park   Kingston Maurward, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8PY Edwardian Gardens, amongst 35 acres of classical 18th century parkland with a 5 acre lake from the from the Georgian house built for George Pitt in 1720, include a croquet lawn, r	0.6 km N
	Old Crown Court & Cells   West Dorset District Council, Stratton House, 58/60 High West S Located within the offices of West Dorset District Council, the Old Crown Court is famous for the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and Judge Jeffreys Bloody Assize. Experience four centuries of gruesome crime and punishment in a setting little changed over	0.6 km N
	Teddy Bear House   Antelope Walk, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1BE A visit to Teddy bear House is in fact a visit to the home of Mr Edward Bear and his large family of human-size teddy bears! Here in a quaint old house in Antelope walk, in the picturesque town of Dorchester, these unique bears live and work and would lov	0.6 km N
	The Dinosaur Museum   Icen Way, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1EW Acclaimed as one of Britains top hands-on attractions, the Dinosaur Museum is unique. The incredible world of dinosaurs comes alive in a new way that visitors of all ages will love and enjoy. Actual fossils, skeletons and life-size reconstructions combine	0.6 km N
	The Keep Military Museum   The Keep, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1RN This modern military museum has computers and creative displays to tell stories of courage, humour, tradition and sacrifice of those who served in the Devon and Dorset regiments for over 300 years. Spectacular views from the battlements.	0.6 km N
	The Tutankhamun Exhibition   High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UW This internationally acclaimed exhibition spans time itself. Extensively featured on television throughout the world. Full school service plus specialist Egyptian shop including books.	0.6 km N

Public Houses
	The Stationmasters House 17 Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 1QY		0.2 km NW
	town: The Alexandra Rd, Dorset   DT1 2LZ		0.2 km NE
	TheCornwallHotelLtd Alexandra Rd, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 2LZ		0.2 km NE
	Bakers Arms 140 Monmouth Rd, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 2DH		0.6 km NW
	The Old Ship Inn 16 High West St, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 1UW		0.7 km NW
	The Royal Oak 20-21 High West St, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 1UW		0.7 km NW
	The Blue Raddle Church St, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 1JN		0.8 km NW
	Tom Browns 47 High East St, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 1HU		0.8 km NW
	The Borough Arms 36 High East St, Dorchester, Dorset   DT1 1HN		0.8 km NW