aerial photograph Wansdyke Wiltshire England UK. The origins of Wansdyke are not entirely clear. Archaeological excavations have brought up evidence from around the 5th and 6th centuries AD so its very possible that the Dyke was built by desperate Romano-Britains trying to protect themselves from Anglo-Saxons. The name Wansdyke is a corruption of Woden's Dyke, Woden being the god in Norse Mythology, also known as Odin.