Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland

EN3603 Pilsdon Pen, Dorset

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

Satellite Imagery

Satellite Imagery

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HER:  Dorset MDO2018 (None)

NMR:  ST 40 SW 9 (193083)

SM:  1019394

NGR:  ST41270127

X:  341253  Y:  101308  (OSGB36)

Summary

Highest of Dorset hillforts at 277m O.D., multivallate, contour hillfort located the end of a spur overlooking W end of Marshwood Vale, 7km W of Beaminster; one of four hillforts in the area. Irregular shaped oval enclosing c. 3.2ha. Naturally steep surrounding slopes utilised on all but NW side where approach c. level. Defined by two massive banks and ditches with small counterscarp, where slope is less steep or interval between inner and outer ramparts. Inner rampart absent in places. Inner and outer ditches mutilated by hedge banks on NE and SW respectively. Near middle of fort square enclosure surrounded by slight bank c. 7.6m wide with traces of external ditch, now thought no older than 17th century; adjacent is possible long barrow. SW bank destroyed by pillow-mound. Four entrance gaps. That on SE has outer bank stopping short of gate to provide oblique entry and appears to be original; that on SW platform between the ramparts on its S flank possibly also. Of the two entrances on N end that on NW probably modern, but that on NE possibly original and masked by a convergence of the ramparts. Excavation by P.S. Gelling 1964-71 (Gelling 1977). Three areas investigated. First on NW remains of abortive ramparts never completed, with central entrance, double rampart and ditch 1.8m deep, possibly first attempt at construction. Small Roman sherd was found near gate. Second area to S where two typical Iron Age round huts excavated. Finds included domestic refuse, fragments of crucible to which were adhering minute specks of gold. Finally, and contentiously, in square area in centre of site (see above), Gelling interpreted a rectilinear timber structure, with two associated huts, one containing a Gallo-Belgic XV gold coin, as a temple in operation c. 80 BC to 40 BC, later replaced by low banks and a token demarcation of a temenos area. However, in a re-working of the excavation in 1982 by D.W.R. Thackray the temenos was considered a much later feature and possibly part of the medieval rabbit warren. Generally well-preserved, but on SW bank destroyed by pillow-mound and ditches mutilated in places. Owned and managed by National Trust. On 1st Ed. OS map (1889).

Status

Citizen Science:  

Reliability of Data:  Confirmed

Reliability of Interpretation:  Confirmed

Location

X:  -315610  Y:  6587449  (EPSG: 3857)

Longitude:  -2.835169726801072  Latitude:  50.80826983803195  (EPSG:4326)

Country:  England; None

Current County or Unitary Authority:  Dorset

Historic County:  Dorset

Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  Pilsdon; Burstock

Monument Condition

Generally well-preserved, but on SW bank destroyed by pillow-mound and inner and outer ditches mutilated by hedgebanks on NE and SW respectively. Owned and managed by National Trust.

Condition:
Extant  
Cropmark  
Likely Destroyed  

Land Use

Pasture interior, scrub/trees on banks and slopes NE-SE. Scrub on W banks.

Current Use:
Woodland  
Commercial Forestry Plantation  
Parkland  
Pasture (Grazing)  
Arable  
Scrub/Bracken  
Bare Outcrop  
Heather/Moorland  
Heath  
Built-up  
Coastal Grassland  
Other  

Landscape

Hillfort Type

Highest of Dorset hillforts at 277m O.D., commanding, multivallate, contour hillfort located the end of a spur overlooking W end of Marshwood Vale. Steep surrounding slopes.

Type:
Contour Fort  
Partial Contour Fort  
Promontory Fort  
Hillslope Fort  
Level Terrain Fort  
Marsh Fort  
Multiple Enclosure Fort  

Topographic Position

Position:
Hilltop  
Coastal Promontory  
Inland Promontory  
Valley Bottom  
Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop  
Ridge  
Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp  
Hillslope  
Lowland  
Spur  

Dominant Topographic Feature:  Spur

Aspect:
North  
Northeast  
East  
Southeast  
South  
Southwest  
West  
Northwest  
Level  

Altitude:  277.0m

Boundary

Boundary Type:  Parish/Townland


Dating Evidence

Probably Iron Age. Ceramics of mainly middle Iron Age South-Western decorated form, but later bead-rimmed plain wares also. Coin of Gallo-Belgic XV found.

Reliability:  B - Medium

Principal Activity:
Pre 1200BC  
1200BC - 800BC  
800BC - 400BC  
400BC - AD50  
AD50 - AD400  
AD400 - AD 800  
Post AD800  
Unknown  

Other Activity:
Pre Hillfort:   None
Post Hillfort:   None

Evidence:
Artefactual:   Ceramics of mainly middle Iron Age South-Western decorated form, but later bead-rimmed plain wares also. Coin of Gallo-Belgic XV found.

Investigation History

On 1st Ed. OS map (1889). Excavation P.S. Gelling 1964-71. Excavation D.W.R. Thackray 1982. Measured survey RCHME 1995, ref. no. 1007320. Geophysical survey National Trust 1999. Visited by Hillfort Study Group 1966.

Investigations:
1st Identified Map Depiction (1889):   OS map.
Other (1966):   Visit by the Hillfort Study Group
Excavation (1982):   D.W.R. Thackray.
Earthwork Survey (1995):   Measured survey RCHME.
Geophysical Survey (1999):   Resistivity survey National Trust, M. Papworth.
Excavation (None):   P.S. Gelling.

Interior Features

Roundhouses and rectilinear structure excavated by Gelling. Series of pillow mounds in interior relate to medieval rabbit warren. Ceramics of mainly South-Western decorated form. Roman ballista bolt. 1,000 slingstones in pit in square enclosure. Evidence of gold working.

Water Source

None

Source:
None  
Spring  
Stream  
Pool  
Flush  
Well  
Other  

Surface

Hollows possible roundhouse sites. Series of pillow mounds in interior relate to medieval rabbit warren.

Interior Features (Surface):
No Known Features  
Round Stone Structures  
Rectangular Stone Structures  
Curvilinear Platforms  
Other Roundhouse Evidence  
Pits  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  

Excavation

Roundhouses and rectilinear structure excavated by Gelling. Metalled roadway found. Pits.

Interior Features (Excavation):
No Known Excavation  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Geophysics

Later geophysical survey 1991 - no details.

Interior Features (Geophysics):
No Known Geophysics  
Pits  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Finds

Ceramics of mainly middle Iron Age South-Western decorated form, but later bead-rimmed plain wars also. Roman ballista bolt. 1,000 slingstones in pit in square enclosure. Evidence of gold working.

Interior (Finds):
No Known Finds  
Pottery  
Metal  
Metalworking  
Human Bones  
Animal Bones  
Lithics  
Environmental  
Other  

Aerial

None

Interior Features (Aerial):
APs Not Checked  
None  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roads/Tracks  
Other  

Entrances

Four entrance gaps. That on SE has outer bank stopping short of gate to provide oblique entry and appears to be original; that on SW platform between the ramparts on its S flank possibly also. Of the two entrances on N end that on NW probably modern, but that on NE possibly original and masked by a convergence of the defences.

Total Number of Breaks Through Ramparts:  
4:   NW gap possibly modern.

Number of Possible Original Entrances:  
2:   None

Guard Chambers:  

Chevaux de Frise:  

Entrances:
1. Oblique (South east):   Oblique entrance.
2. Oblique (South west):   Platform between inner and outer ramparts.
3. Other Forms (North east):   Masked by a convergence of the defences.

Enclosing Works

Defined by two massive banks and ditches with small counterscarp. On NW excavation found remains of abortive defences never completed, with central entrance, double rampart and ditch 1.8m deep, possibly first attempt at construction.

Enclosed Area:
Area 1:   3.2ha.
Total:   3.2ha.

Total Footprint Area:  Noneha.

Ramparts

None

Multi-period Enclosure System:
✓   On NW remains of abortive defences never completed, with central entrance, double rampart and ditch 1.8m deep, possibly first attempt at construction.

Ramparts Form a Continuous Circuit:
✓   None

Number of Ramparts:  
NE Quadrant:   2
SE Quadrant:   2
SW Quadrant:   2
NW Quadrant:   2
Total:   2

Morphology

Current Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  
Unknown  

Detailed Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  

Surface Evidence

Counterscarp to outer ditch.

Enclosing Works (Surface):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Rubble  
Wall-walk  
Evidence of Timber  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
Other  

Excavated Evidence

On NW remains of abortive defences never completed, with central entrance, double rampart and ditch 1.8m deep, possibly first attempt at construction.

Enclosing Works (Excavation):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Murus Duplex  
Timber-framed  
Timber-laced  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
No Known Excavation  
Other  

Other

Gang Working:
✗   None

Ditches:
✓   Deep ditches.

Number of Ditches:  2

Annex:
✗   None

References

Gale, J. 2003. Prehistoric Dorset, Stroud: Tempus Publishing.

Gelling, P. 1977. Excavations at Pilsdon Pen, Dorset, 1964-71, Proc Prehist Soc, 43, 263-86.

Papworth M. 2000. PILSDON PEN CAMP, PILSDON, DORSET. RESISTIVITY SURVEY REPORT. Unpublished.

Pearce, R. 1983. Mesolithic Artefacts from West Dorset, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 105, 139.

RCHME 1952. An inventory of the historical monuments in Dorset, Vol 1, West Dorset, 179-80, London: RCHM.

Thackray, D.W.R. 1982. Excavations at Pilsdon Pen Hillfort, 1982, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 104, 178-179



Terms of Use

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


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