LiDAR 1m DSM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DSM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
Scroll left/right to view further images.
HER: Dorset MDO4809 (None)
NMR: ST 81 SE 20 (206122)
SM: 1002678
NGR: ST85651066
X: 385670 Y: 110648 (OSGB36)
Large multivallate, partial contour hillort located at summit of Hod Hill above very steep wooded slopes to bend of River Stour to W and steep slopes elsewhere. Interior slopes to W. Site rectangular in plan with area c. 22ha. Defined by two massive ramparts with outer counterscarp bank on N, E. and S and single, slighter, rampart and ditch with counterscarp bank on W above the very steep slopes to river. On N and E banks 43m to 46m across overall, with main inner rampart to 9m high above ditch bottom. On S, where external slope less steep, defences to 55m across, with main rampart c. 11m high. On N natural shelf above steep fall and, possibly unfinished, disturbed NW outwork extends to dominate this shelf at widest point, but it ends 50m short of the fairly sharp natural shoulder of the slope. On S and E slopes of hill remains of strip lynchets and later ploughing. Evidence of gang working in the line. Two Iron Age entrances; an inturned entrance with massive hornwork, 67m long, channelling approach, at NE corner known as Steepleton Gate and a marked inturned entrance on SW with extra line of rampart and ditch. Three later entrances. Hanford Gate at NW angle and Ashfield Gate in mid E side Roman insertions. Home Gate on SE medieval or later; the lane leading to it from Stourpaine village named 'Hod Drove' on Tithe Map of 1841. Notable large quarry hollows around circuit except along most of W and small part S. Series of excavations from 1830's through to 2001. Those W.A. Boyd Dawkins 1899 and Sir Ian Richmond 1951-58 showed three phases with the massive and impressive inner rampart of box construction the earliest, with bank to 4.5m high and outer ditch over 12m wide and 6m deep. A final phases of prehistoric construction seemingly in response to the Roman invasion, when the large Dorset Durotrigan hillforts referred to by Suetonious, including Hod Hill, were taken one by one, the defences appearing to have been hurriedly strengthened. Significant Roman fort constructed in NW corner utilising the hillfort ramparts and seems to have appeared very early in Vespasian's annexation of the region. Encloses c. 4.5ha and of earth with timber buildings and housing mixed garrison of legionaries and auxiliaries. Evidence of c. 250 Iron Age hut sites in unploughed area of hillfort interior, virtually all round structures and many c. 9m across with SE entrance, some with annexes and yards, mounds, boundary banks and scarps. Huts excavated by Richmond yielded Iron Age pottery, hoards of slingstones, horse trappings, iron sickles and currency bars, with postholes, palisade trenches and pits with burials. Many pits over site as whole, c. 1.5m deep, covering 2.4ha. Working platforms. Grassland interior and banks. Well-preserved National Trust site. On 1st Ed. OS map (1887).
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -245476 Y: 6602754 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -2.205149299109385 Latitude: 50.89507014117032 (EPSG:4326)
Country: England; None
Current County or Unitary Authority: Dorset
Historic County: Dorset
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Hanford; Stourpaine
Well-preserved National Trust site. Part ploughed interior. On Heritage at Risk Register (2015).
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
Rough pasture. Wooded slopes on W and part-wooded on E. SSSI.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✓ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✗ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Massive and commanding, multivallate, partial contour hillort located at summit of Hod Hill above very steep wooded slopes to bend of River Stour to W and steep slopes elsewhere.
| 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: Hill top
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✓ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✗ |
Altitude: 144.0m
Boundary Type: Parish/Townland
Many dateable finds, including pottery, from through Iron Age to Roman period. Significant Roman fort in NW corner utilising the hillfort defences, seems to have appeared very early in Vespasian's annexation of the region, and therefore could be said to be a refortification/reoccupation rather than just post hillfort activity. Ballista bolts found over enclosure. On the evidence of coins and pottery Roman occupation Claudian, but short (43-51 AD).
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: | Many dateable finds from Iron Age through to Roman period. |
In Aubrey's Monumenta Britannica (1665-1693). Excavation H. Durden 1830's. Lane leading to Home Gate from Stourpaine village named 'Hod Drove' on Tithe Map of 1841. On 1st Ed. OS map (1887). Excavation W.A. Boyd-Dawkins c. 1899. Excavation J.W. Brailsford 1949. Excavation I.A. Richmond 1951-58. Small trench excavation National Trust 2001. Geophysical survey by D. Visited by Hillfort Study Group 1966, 2016.
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1841): | Tithe Map. |
| Excavation (1949): | J. Brailsford. |
| Other (1966): | Visit by the Hillfort Study Group |
| Excavation (2001): | National Trust. |
| Other (2016): | Visit by the Hillfort Study Group |
| 1st Identified Written Reference (None): | Aubrey's Monumenta Britannica. |
| Excavation (None): | H.Durden. |
| Excavation (None): | I.A. Richmond. |
| Geophysical Survey (None): | D.Stewart. |
| Excavation (None): | Excavation W.A. Boyd-Dawkins. |
Evidence of c. 250 hut sites, virtually all round structures and many c. 9m across with SE entrance, some with annexes and yards, mounds, boundary banks and scarps. Aerial photographs show roadways. Unexcavated mounds possible refuse heaps or unused chalk from pits. Huts excavated by Richmond yielded Iron Age pottery, hoards of slingstones, horse trappings, iron sickles and currency bars, with postholes, palisade trenches and pits. Many pits to 1.5m deep covering 2.4ha in at least two phases. Other finds included bone weaving comb and decorated spindle whorl, pan, bucket and tankard handles and 40 Durotrigian and possibly Durotrigian gold and silver coins. Chance find of iron production slag. Geophysical survey across hillfort interior by Dave Stewart, a student from Bournemouth University. No details.
None
| None | ✓ |
| Spring | ✗ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✗ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Evidence of c. 250 hut sites, virtually all round structures. Many pits over site to 1.5m deep covering 2.4ha and in at least two phases. Substantial quarry hollows around most of circuit except along most of W and small part S. Working platforms. Unexcavated mounds possible refuse heaps or unused chalk from pits.
| No Known Features | ✗ |
| Round Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms | ✓ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence | ✓ |
| Pits | ✓ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
Huts excavated by Richmond showed postholes, palisade trenches and pits with burials.
| No Known Excavation | ✗ |
| Pits | ✓ |
| Postholes | ✓ |
| Roundhouses | ✓ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
Geophysical survey across hillfort interior by Dave Stewart, a student from Bournemouth University. No details.
| No Known Geophysics | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
Huts excavated by Richmond yielded Iron Age pottery, hoards of slingstones, horse trappings, iron sickles and currency bars, with postholes, palisade trenches and pits. Many pits to 1.5m deep covering 2.4ha in at least two phases. Other finds included bone weaving comb and decorated spindle whorl, pan, bucket and tankard handles and 40 Durotrigian and possibly Durotrigian gold and silver coins. Chance find of iron production slag. Burials in pits.
| No Known Finds | ✗ |
| Pottery | ✓ |
| Metal | ✓ |
| Metalworking | ✓ |
| Human Bones | ✓ |
| Animal Bones | ✓ |
| Lithics | ✓ |
| Environmental | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
Evidence of c. 250 roundhouse structures and roadways.
| APs Not Checked | ✗ |
| None | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✓ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Two Iron Age entrances; an inturned entrance with massive hornwork, 67m long, channelling approach, at NE corner known as Steepleton Gate and marked inturned entrance on SW with extra line of rampart outwork and ditch. Three later entrances. Hanford Gate at NW angle and Ashfield Gate in mid E side Roman insertions. Home Gate on SE medieval or later; the lane leading to it from Stourpaine village named 'Hod Drove' on Tithe Map of 1841.
| 5: | Home Gate on SE medieval or later. |
| 2: | Two Iron Age and two Roman gates. |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. In-turned (North east): | Also with massive hornwork 67m long. Known as Steepleton Gate. |
| 1. Hornwork (North east): | Massive hornwork. |
| 2. In-turned (South west): | With extra line of rampart and ditch. |
| 2. Outworks (South west): | Extra line of rampart outwork and ditch. |
| 3. Simple Gap (North west): | Hanford Gate. Roman. |
| 4. Simple Gap (East): | Ashfield Gate. Roman. |
Multiple ramparts have a defensive line of three banks with ditches to N and parts of S, with double line on E. To W, where slopes very steep to River Stour, a single set appeared sufficient, although it is possible that they were unfinished. Massive and impressive inner rampart the earliest, with bank to 4.5m high and outer ditch over 12m wide and 6m deep. Evidence of gang working in the way the line was set out.
| Area 1: | 22.0ha. |
| Total: | 22.0ha. |
Total Footprint Area: Noneha.
None
| ✓ | Excavations show at least three phases beginning with box rampart. |
| ✓ | None |
| NE Quadrant: | 3 |
| SE Quadrant: | 2 |
| SW Quadrant: | 2 |
| NW Quadrant: | 3 |
| Total: | 3 |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✓ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✓ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✓ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
Chalk banks. NW outwork possibly unfinished.
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✓ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Rubble | ✗ |
| Wall-walk | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✓ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
Narrow water pipe trench dug through SW entrance by National Trust 2001 revealed stratigraphy on exterior and through entrance. Interior ploughed down to chalk bedrock with only four postholes noted cutting chalk with no diagnostic finds. Collapse of flint nodules down the exterior slope from SW gateway showed collapse of flint revetment at the entrance. Palisade trenches.
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✓ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex | ✗ |
| Timber-framed | ✓ |
| Timber-laced | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✓ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation | ✗ |
| Other | ✓ |
| ✓ | Evidence of gang working in the way the line was set out.. |
| ✓ | Up to three ditches. |
Number of Ditches: 3
| ✗ | None |
Boyd Dawkins, W.A. 1900. The exploration of Hod Hill near Blandford, Dorset, in 1897, Arch J, 57, 52-68.
Brailsford, J.W. 1949. Interim Report on Preliminary Excavations at Hod Hill, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 71, 41-50.
Gale, J. 2003. Prehistoric Dorset, Stroud: Tempus Publishing.
Papworth, M. 2001. Hod Hill, Stourpaine, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 123,125.
RCHME 1970. An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol 3, pt 2, Central Dorset, 263-65, London: RCHME.
Richmond, I.A. 1951. Excavation of the Early Iron Age camp and Roman fort at Hod Hill, Stourpaine, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 73, 105.
Richmond, I.A. 1968. Hod Hill Vol 2. Excavations carried out between 1951 and 1958 for the Trustees of the British Museum, London: British Museum.
Stewart, D. 2005. A Geophysical Survey at Hod Hill, Stourpaine, Dorset. Supplementary Study. University of Bournemouth.
Stewart D. 2006 A GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY AT HOD HILL, STOURPAINE, DORSET. National Trust.
( 2) The Antiquaries journal : journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London 57, 1900 Page(s)52-68
( 3) General reference Wessex from the Air. 1928. 36-41 (Crawford & Keiller)
( 4) Society for Promotion of Roman Studies The journal of Roman studies I A Richmond 40-47, 1950-57
( 5) Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 23, 1957 Page(s)222-3
( 6) Aerial photograph AP (J K St Joseph AR 75)
( 7) Field Investigators Comments F1 NVQ 08-JAN-62
( 8) General reference Hod Hill 1 1962 (J Brailsford)
( 9) General reference Hod Hill 2 1968 (I Richmond)
(10) Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England) 1970 An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset. Volume three : central Dorset [in two parts] PART 2 Page(s)263-5
(14) General reference BAR 62 British Hill-Forts: An Index. 1979. 205 (AHA Hogg)
(11) General reference The Place-Names of Roman Britain. 1979. 344 (A L F Rivet & C Smith)
(12) Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Britannia : a journal of Romano-British and kindred studies 17, 1986 Page(s)60, 65, 66
(13) Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Britannia : a journal of Romano-British and kindred studies 15, 1984 Page(s)77-84
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