Maiden Castle

A town fit for a King

Maiden Castle is the largest Iron Age Hill Fort in Europe.

It's internal area is big enough to fit 50 football pitches, with room to spare.

It started life as a spur on the end of a line of chalk hills, and was cleared of trees during the Neolithic period.

4000 BC. The first earthwork to be built on the hill was a Neolithic 'Causwayed Camp'. This comprised a single ditch and bank which enclosed the Eastern end (left hand end as you view this picture). The remains of this are still visible. The enclosure was half the size of the present earthworks, and the line across the middle is still a distinct bank.

3500 BC. Then came a late Neolithic 'Bank Barrow' almost 400 meters long, running left to right as you view it here.

2500BC. The next occupants were Bronze Age, and they built burial mounds on the right hand end.

600BC. Early Iron Age construction of a small hill-fort, when the existing Neolithic remains were rebuilt into defence works.

500BC. Enlargement of the hill-fort to the present extent. Defences built of limestone walling.

300BC. Reorganisation of the hill-fort as it grew. The ramparts were rebuilt into the chalk scree-slopes that are now grassed over.

100BC. The breakdown of the hill-fort occupation to the point of abandonment. As the Iron Age economy changed from farming to trading, the status of a hill-fort became unnecessary, and the population moved out and built a town on the trading cross-roads.

100BC-50AD. Establishment of Iron Age (Celtic) town outside the hill-fort, followed by take-over of the Romans and the foundation of Dunovaria (Dorchester)

43AD. Temporary occupation by the Romans.

70AD. Abandonment of the hillfort

367AD. Roman built a temple in the remains of the hill-fort.

16/17th c. AD Construction of a barn at the Eastern end. Interior ploughed.

18th c. Abandoned and left to return to pasture.

1934-37AD Excavations by Sir Mortimer Wheeler

1986AD Excavation by Niall M. Sharples

Sir Mortimer Wheeler, in his wisdom, created a story of how (he thought) the Romans took Maiden Castle. His interpretation of the evidence is deeply flawed, partialy lack of knowledge, and partiality the love of a good story!

Looking at the evidence with modern eyes and interpretation, the story is very different, and it is now thought that the Roman attack did not take place!