LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
Scroll left/right to view further images.
HER: Dorset MDO3713 (None)
NMR: ST 81 SW 10 (206234)
SM: 1002677
NGR: ST84511270
X: 384506 Y: 112716 (OSGB36)
Contour hillfort located on the N of three chalk spurs of Hambledon Hill facing NW and overlooking the fertile Greensand soils of the Vale of Shroton and the grassland of the Blackmore Vale. Part of Hambeldon Hill compex of earthworks with late Neolithic causewayed enclosure immediately to SE. Very steep surrounding slopes except to latter on SE where level to moderate. Site sinuously follows the contours of the spur SE-NW, measuring c. 914m overall from N-S, by 305m, with external area c. 28ha, and internal area c. 12.5ha. Much of interior sloping. Phased construction. Site falls into three sections, N, central and S, partly as result of two cross banks in interior and changes in alignment of ramparts. Defined by two ramparts around circuit, with external ditches and further scraping below outer ditch for most of length. Impressively uses very steep surrounding slopes for effect as although interior crest of rampart rarely more than 1.2m internally, it measures to 21m externally on the scarp. Quarry area inside inner rampart now a terrace. At SE end where slopes gentler, banks and ditches cut off the spur at most vulnerable point. Inner bank to 9m above ditch bottom. Counterscarp to outer bank, beyond which are massive outworks of two banks and ditches finally cutting off the spur. Three entrances. Simple gap on N largely destroyed by a quarry, sited on very steep slope. That on SW sited on local rise in ground level, inturned ramparts dipping away from it on either side, and approached from E along shoulder of the slope within hornwork 76m long. Third entrance, on SE, not situated on the neck of spur, but some distance to N where faces into steep combe. Consists of simple gap through inturned ramparts and integrated with SE outworks. Attempts to strengthen defences involved moving the approach nearer to the shoulder of the slope and eventually on to a ledge below the shoulder. Excavations by R. Mercer between 1974-86, mainly focussing on Neolithic features. Multi-phases of construction. Now thought that earliest hillfort probably on N and central thirds of the spur, with possible entrance at N end. This subsequently extended to incorporate S-most third of the spur, with two gates, to E and W. Subsequently the SE corner/gateway further elaborated and extended. Evidence of dense occupation. Traces of 365 certain and possible house platforms, later ridge and furrow. possibly masking other sites. Also trackways, large platform, perhaps for non-domestic use, and possible pond. Iron Age, Romano-British and Roman finds. On 1st Ed. OS map (1887).
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -247328 Y: 6606031 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -2.2217884508590102 Latitude: 50.91363638210046 (EPSG:4326)
Country: England; None
Current County or Unitary Authority: Dorset
Historic County: Dorset
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Child Okeford; Iwerne Courtney or Shroton
Fine well-preserved, since 2015 National Trust site and National Nature Reserve.
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
Good upland grass. SSSI.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✓ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✗ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Outstanding contour hillfort located on the N of three chalk spurs of Hambledon Hill facing NW and overlooking the fertile Greensand soils of the Vale of Shroton and the grassland of the Blackmore Vale. Part of Hambeldon Hill compex of earthworks with late Neolithic causewayed enclosure immediately to SE at ST81SW 17. Very steep surrounding slopes except to latter on SE where level to moderate. Site sinuously follows the contours of the spur SE-NW. Site between 140m and 190m ASL.
| Contour Fort | ✓ |
| Partial Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort | ✗ |
| Hillslope Fort | ✗ |
| Level Terrain Fort | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort | ✗ |
| Hilltop | ✗ |
| Coastal Promontory | ✗ |
| Inland Promontory | ✗ |
| Valley Bottom | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop | ✗ |
| Ridge | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp | ✗ |
| Hillslope | ✗ |
| Lowland | ✗ |
| Spur | ✓ |
Dominant Topographic Feature: Spur
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✗ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✓ |
Altitude: 190.0m
Boundary Type: Parish/Townland
Late Bronze Age/Iron Age multi-phase site. Early Iron Age pottery. Romano-British and earlier material, including pottery, quern fragments and sling-stones. Roman articles including iron saws, bronze fibulae, knives and several coins of Constantine.
Reliability: B - Medium
| Pre 1200BC | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC | ✓ |
| 400BC - AD50 | ✓ |
| AD50 - AD400 | ✓ |
| AD400 - AD 800 | ✗ |
| Post AD800 | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Pre Hillfort: | None |
| Post Hillfort: | None |
| Artefactual: | Early Iron Age pottery. Romano-British and earlier material. |
| Morphology/Earthwork/Typology: | Late Bronze Age/Iron Age multi-phase site. |
In Aubrey's Monumenta Britannica (1665-1693). On 1st Ed. OS map (1887). Excavation E. Cunnington 1894. RCHME survey 1959, 1996, ref. no. 1079113. Excavations by R. Mercer between 1974-86, mainly focussing on Neolithic features. Visited by Hillfort Study Group 1966, 2016.
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1887): | OS map. |
| Excavation (1894): | E. Cunnington. |
| Other (1966): | Visit by the Hillfort Study Group |
| Other (2016): | Visit by the Hillfort Study Group |
| 1st Identified Written Reference (None): | None |
| Earthwork Survey (None): | RCHME surveys. |
| Excavation (None): | Excavations R. Mercer between 1974-86, mainly fiocussing on Neolithic features. |
Evidence of dense occupation. Traces of 365 certain and possible house platforms, later ridge and furrow. possibly masking other sites. Also trackways, large platform, perhaps for non-domestic use, and possible pond. BEAD, BROOCH, VESSEL, WEAVING COMB.
Possible dewpond in interior.
| None | ✗ |
| Spring | ✗ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✓ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Evidence of dense occupation. Traces of 365 certain and possible house platforms c. 4.6m to 13.7m across, later ridge and furrow. possibly masking other sites. Also trackways, large platform, perhaps for non-domestic use, and possible pond. Quarry area inside inner rampart now a terrace.
| No Known Features | ✗ |
| Round Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms | ✓ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
Excavations by R. Mercer between 1974-86, mainly focussing on Neolithic features.
| No Known Excavation | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✓ |
None
| No Known Geophysics | ✓ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
Early Iron Age pottery. Romano-British and earlier material, including pottery, quern fragments and sling-stones. Roman articles including iron saws, bronze fibulae, knives and several coins of Constantine.
| No Known Finds | ✗ |
| Pottery | ✓ |
| Metal | ✓ |
| Metalworking | ✗ |
| Human Bones | ✗ |
| Animal Bones | ✗ |
| Lithics | ✗ |
| Environmental | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
None
| APs Not Checked | ✓ |
| None | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Three entrances, simple gap N largely destroyed by a quarry, sited on very steep slope. That on SW sited on local rise in ground level, inturned ramparts dipping away from it on either side, and approached from E along shoulder of the slope within hornwork 76m long. Third entrance, on SE, not situated on the neck of spur, but some distance to N where faces into steep coombe. Consists of simple gap through inturned ramparts and integrated with SE outworks. Attempts to strengthen defences involved moving the approach nearer to the shoulder of the slope and eventually on to a ledge below the shoulder.
| 3: | None |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. Simple Gap (North): | On very steep slope. Largely destroyed by quarry. |
| 2. In-turned (South west): | Inturned ramparts dipping away from it on either side, |
| 2. Hornwork (South west): | Hornwork 76m long. |
| 3. In-turned (South east): | Consists of simple gap through inturned ramparts and integrated with SE outworks. |
| 3. Outworks (South east): | Consists of simple gap through inturned ramparts and integrated with SE outworks. |
Defined by two ramparts around circuit, with external ditches and further scraping below outer ditch for most of length. Impressively uses very steep surrounding slopes for effect as although interior crest of rampart rarely more than 1.2m internally, it measures to 21m externally on the scarp. Quarry area inside inner rampart now a terrace. At SE end where slopes gentler, banks and ditches cut off the spur at most vulnerable point. Inner bank to 9m above ditch bottom. Counterscarp to outer bank, beyond which are massive outworks of two banks and ditches finally cutting off the spur.
| Area 1: | 12.5ha. |
| Total: | 12.5ha. |
Total Footprint Area: 28.0ha.
None
| ✓ | Multi-phases of construction. Now thought that earliest hillfort probably on N and central thirds of the spur, with possible entrance at N end. This subsequently extended to incorporate S-most third of the spur, with two gates, to E and W.. Subsequently the SE corner/gateway further elaborated and extended. |
| ✓ | None |
| NE Quadrant: | 2 |
| SE Quadrant: | 2 |
| SW Quadrant: | 2 |
| NW Quadrant: | 2 |
| Total: | 2 |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✓ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✓ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
Counterscarp to outer bank at SE end.
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✓ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Rubble | ✗ |
| Wall-walk | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✓ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Excavations by R. Mercer between 1974-86, mainly focussing on Neolithic features.
| None | ✓ |
| Earthen Bank | ✗ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex | ✗ |
| Timber-framed | ✗ |
| Timber-laced | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| ✗ | None |
| ✓ | None |
Number of Ditches: 2
| ✗ | None |
Anderson, M. 2015. Nature's fortress, National Trust Magazine, Summer 2015, 62-5.
Brown, I. 2009. Beacons in the landscape. The hillforts of England and Wales, Oxford: Windgather Press/Oxbow Books.
Cunnington, E. 1895. Hambledon Hill, Dorset, Proc Dorset Nat Hist Antiq Fld Clb, 16, 156-57.
Farrar, R.A.H. 1959. Archaeological Fieldwork in Dorset in 1951, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 81, 108.
Gale, J. 2003. Prehistoric Dorset, Stroud: Tempus Publishing.
Mercer, R. and Healy, F. 2008. Hambledon Hill, Dorset, England: excavation and survey of a Neolithic monument complex and its surrounding landscape. Swindon: English Heritage.
Oswald, A. 1997. A new survey of Hambledon Hill. RCHME.
Oswald, A., Dyer, C. and Barber, M. 2001. The creation of monuments. Neolithic causewayed enclosures in the British Isles, London: English Heritage.
RCHME 1970. An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol 3, Central Dorset, London: RCHME.
Atlas of Hillforts:
Wikidata:
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
and should be cited as:
Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk
Document Version 1.1