Maiden Castle Hill Fort, Nr Dorchester, Dorset

This is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe, and certainly the largest in Britain. Comprising multiple ramparts, the area inside would have protected several hundred people.

The earliest evidence of activity consisted of a Neolithic causeway enclosure and bank barrow. During the Bronze age, around 1800 BC, it was an agricultural site. Castle is an Old English word for camp or encampment, not to be confused with the Mediaeval strongholds built in stone, and it was this encampment that was built around 600 BC. It was pretty much like any other hill fort in Britain, until circa 450 BC when major expansion occurred. The enclosed area was almost tripled in size, and the defences made more complex with additional ramparts and ditches.

The entrance on the North-West side is brilliant to walk through as it shows the extent and complexity of the defences.

The sheep must love it too as there were a lot of them dotted about grazing on the slopes. 

Subsequent excavations produced an extensive cemetery, revealing evidence of death during battle. This was thought to be during an attack at the time of the Roman invasion, and the remains of a Roman temple bears out the fact that the invaders had clearly gained access and taken control of the site.
  
The remains of the Roman temple below.

This was my second visit to Maiden Castle. The first time was with an A-Level Archaeology adult education class in 1996, along with visits to Maumbury Rings and the Roman Town House as seen in my last post. On that visit we didn't walk around the perimeter but stood shivering while listening to a lecture from a visiting professor on a cold, windy and drizzly day.
 

This visit was made in September 2008, just a week off twelve years ago to the day. Although at the end of a long day spent visiting other prehistoric sites in Wiltshire it was such a lovely, relaxing stroll along the embankments on a warm and sunny late afternoon. Altogether a different experience!

My favourite photo of the day, below, was taken when walking back around the perimeter towards the setting sun in the west and just before the extensive ramparts on the southern side.

 
And to finish off, a final look back at the ramparts. :)