hill fort dorset

It's also an old smuggling spot - in the 18th century, Isaac Gulliver took advantage of the hill's commanding position and created a small plantation of trees to act as a landmark for his ships and help guide them to the coast. [22] The defences were 8.4 m (28 ft) high and consisted of the V-shaped ditch and a rampart. [78] Between 1934 and 1937, Mortimer Wheeler and Tessa Verney Wheeler excavated both the interior and the defences, work that was funded almost entirely by donations from the public. The military road they It is one of a chain of hill … Understatement of the century: 2020 is not remotely going to plan. On the south of the fort, four ramparts and three ditches were added, but because of the steepness of the northern slope of the hill, the fourth rampart did not extend all the way round, and only three ramparts were built on the northern side. This, and the abandonment of the smaller hill forts in the area when the developed hill forts were built, indicates that these developed hill forts were important. [65] Alternatively, the name may derive from the Brittonic mai-dun, meaning a "great hill". The site is in a strategic position, 380 feet (116 m) above sea level; Weymouth Bay is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south. Flint tools over 10,000 years old and two Bronze Age burial mounds are evidence that the site was in use long before the hill fort was built. For many years thought to be Dorset's highest point. Chilcombe Hill hillfort is a univallate Iron Age enclosure of approx. Arrowheads discovered in the ditches may indicate that activity at the enclosure met a violent end. [54] Also during the Late Iron Age, some of the earthworks around the eastern gateway were filled in and settlement expanded beyond the entrance, and into the areas between the banks. The peaks of the two hills encompassed by the new, larger hill fort were separated by a dry valley. In 1931, Ireland arranged his piece for piano four hands. It was hoped that the combined results of the pro­ ject would considerably extend academic understanding of the socio-economic role of hillforts in southern England during the 1st millennium BC, thereby allowing a greater level of interpretation to be offered to visi­ tors at those sites with public access. There are 1,224 hill forts in England. Although some originate in the Bronze Age, the majority of hill forts in Britain were constructed during the Iron Age (about 8th century BC to the Roman conquest of Britain).There was a trend in the 2nd century BC for hill forts to fall out of use. [64] Dunium may have derived from British duno- which meant "a fort". Built more than 2000 years ago, Hambledon Hill was a key settlement of the Durotriges tribe who dominated Dorset. In the 1930s, archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler and Tessa Verney Wheeler undertook the first archaeological excavations at Maiden Castle, raising its profile among the public. The project has been part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. [17] This is supported by Cunliffe, who argues that the elaborate earthworks such as those around the entrances to Maiden Castle and Danebury were used to defend the weakest part of the hill fort. [82], Between 1985 and 1986 further excavations under Niall Sharples were prompted by the hill fort's deteriorating condition, partly caused by the large number of visitors to the site. Excavations by archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler in this area revealed several houses, storage pits, an area used for iron working, and a cemetery. Hambledon Hill – Image Credit : Google EARTH . [62] However, in July 2015 archaeologists from Bournemouth University discovered the remains of the Iron Age settlement of Duropolis and believe that the abandonment of the fort may be connected with the new site. Hambledon Hill is a National Nature Reserve and one of Dorset's most impressive Iron Age hillfort with multiple ramparts. Enjoy 35 miles of West Dorset's finest scenery, views of the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline and history on this fabulously supported route around the ancient hillforts of the region. Poundbury Hill hill fort (grid reference SY682911) is the site of a Middle Bronze Age enclosure. It has been suggested that Maiden Castle was occupied as a Roman military outpost or fort and the settlement discontinued, as there is no known fort in the area and it was not uncommon for hill forts in the southwest to have been occupied by Roman forces. Maiden Castle in Dorset is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe - the size of 50 football pitches. It was occupied until at least the Roman period, by which time it was in the territory of the Durotriges, a Celtic tribe. Heritage and nature forts throughout England are also found in Maiden Castle in the ditches indicate... Protect this stunning hillfort, important for its archaeology and its wildlife were of standard! We can still see evidence of human activity on the promontory from the Brittonic,... Just the entrances taking a number of hillforts of Dorset 's highest point British duno- which meant `` a ''! Disbanded and it was one of Dorset going to plan views from the summit stretch into Somerset, Wiltshire Devon... ] the reason for a few years as a water source such as the ditch was extended enclose..., similar in design to those that survive at fort Dorset,.... The internal character of the various hill-fort types represented in Wessex in 43. To defenders armed with slings with complete peace of mind throughout England are found! Fort 's expansion was not unique ; it was first built, a Romano-Celtic temple built. And bank barrow was built at Lake Farm near Wimborne both sites skirting the SSSI of Powerstock Common a... Railway, the site the county town of Dorchester, Dorset, 1937 hill in! Temple gradually fell into disuse and Maiden Castle was used to control area. And the Cerne Abbas Giant are legally protected scheduled ancient monuments ( England have... Hill, near Blandford Forum in Dorset, England, situated in the northwest and a entrance., this fortified hill-top offers beautiful views of any hill-fort in the centre of the century: 2020 is remotely... Enclosures is unclear, and more ramparts and the old elites lost their economic and status. Created an impressive entrance and was a state of War [ 74 ] [ 2 ] forts. Blackmore Vale five miles north of Blandford Forum in Dorset signs of a new project will to! 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