Monument record MDO3244 - Maiden Castle, Winterborne St Martin

Maiden Castle, known primarily for its Iron Age hillfort, which is one of the largest and most complex in Europe, includes multi-period remains on a chalk hilltop of the South Dorset Downs. The site has been excavated by Edward Cunnington (1884), Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1934-1937) and Niall Sharples (1985-1986). The earliest features to be identified include a group of pits associated with Early Neolithic flint working, dating to around 4000 BC. A causewayed enclosure was built soon after, on the eastern plateau, which may have contained a long barrow and is associated with two infant burials. The Iron Age hillfort overlies this enclosure. In around 3500 BC, after the enclosure had fallen out of use, a bank barrow was constructed, part of which overlies the western end of the enclosure. In the Later Neolithic and Bronze Age periods two barrows and a small enclosure were constructed. Visible on aerial photographs {1} and digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

Maiden Castle, known primarily for its Iron Age hillfort, which is one of the largest and most complex in Europe, includes multi-period remains on a chalk hilltop of the South Dorset Downs. The site has been excavated by Edward Cunnington (1884), Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1934-1937) and Niall Sharples (1985-1986). The earliest features to be identified include a group of pits associated with Early Neolithic flint working, dating to around 4000 BC. A causewayed enclosure was built soon after, on the eastern plateau, which may have contained a long barrow and is associated with two infant burials. The Iron Age hillfort overlies this enclosure. In around 3500 BC, after the enclosure had fallen out of use, a bank barrow was constructed, part of which overlies the western end of the enclosure. In the Later Neolithic and Bronze Age periods two barrows and a small enclosure were constructed. Visible on aerial photographs <40> and digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

MAIDEN CASTLE - Excavated by Mortimer Wheeler between 1934 and 1937. (2)

Maiden Castle: 1:2500 survey revised using plans authority 2 and 2a and OS air photograph 78:080:049. See ground photographs. <13>

The statue found by Wheeler lying within the "shrine" and interpreted by him as being of Diana, is reinterpreted as being a statue of Dionysus-Bacchus. <15>

Additional aerial photographs. <16-17>

Excavation report on the 1985 and 1986 excavation programme including Carbon-14 date. <19-20>

Neolithic Cornish axes, and 15 Carbon-14 dates from Maiden Castle. <23>

SY 669 885. Maiden Castle. Listed in gazetteer as a hillfort with 4 phases of construction. Phase I: univallate covering 7.5ha. Phases II-IV: initially univallate but later multivallate covering 18.5ha. <12>

In 1984-1985, RCHME carried out a level 3 analytical earthwork survey of the monument complex at a scale of 1:1000. For further information see archive collection. <18>

Further excavations were carried out in 1985-6, under the direction of Niall Sharples. The results, including the plan produced by RCHME and a synopsis of the issues arising from the survey, are fully published. <25-26>

In October 1997, RCHME carried out a level 1 survey of the site as part of a national project to record Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic (Event Record 923509). The Neolithic causewayed enclosure underlye the earthworks of the Phase I Iron Age hillfort. <40>

The earliest features to be identified include a group of pits associated with Early Neolithic flint working. A causewayed enclosure was built soon after, on the eastern plateau. This enclosure may have contained a long barrow and is associated with two infant burials. Some time after this enclosure had fallen out of use, a bank barrow was constructed (SX 68 NE), part of which overlies the western end of the enclosure. Two barrows (SX 68 NE) and a small enclosure were constructed later, probably in the later Neolithic/Bronze Age. The Iron Age hillfort overlies the Neolithic enclosure. Finds include groups of sling stones, Iron Age pottery, brooches, beads, loom weights, querns and coins. Around 50 human burials have also been identified, many within a cemetery at the eastern end of the site. Occupation of the hilltop declined following the Roman Conquest, but a Romano-Celtic temple was built at the eastern end of the fort, during the 4th century AD. The building comprised a central block, or cella, surrounded by a corridor or verandah, within a walled precinct. The cella may have had mosaic floor, while the corridor had a tesserated pavement. During the post-Roman period the hilltop was used to graze stock and a number of dewponds were constructed to provide water. See child records for details. Scheduled. <30>

(SY 6693 8848)
In October 1998, RCHME carried out a Level 1 Field investigation and Level 3 archival research on the Neolithic causewayed enclosure which underlies the multivallate Iron Age hillfort known as Maiden Castle (SY 68 NE 7), as part of a national project recording Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic (Event Record 923509). <35>

Multi phase Iron Age hillfort. There are three main phases for the Iron Age occupation of the site, the Early Iron Age fort is defined by a single bank and ditch which enclosed the eastern summit of the hilltop. The fort was then extended to the west to enclose more than double the area of the original fort. Throughout this period, extra ramparts were added and the inner rampart was heightened. The entrances to the fort became increasingly more complex as more ramparts were added and gateways were redesigned. The interior of the fort appears to have been densly occupied at this time. In the later part of the iron age occupation became restricted to the eastern half of the fort and the defences became less important, though the inner bank and ditch wre refurbished at least once. Settlement and industrial activity extended into the area in front of the eastern gateway. There have been two major programmes of excavation of the site, the first in 1934-7 by Mortimer Wheeler and the secon in 1985-6 . <8> <25>

Finds have included groups of sling stones, pottery, brooches, beads, loom weights, spindle whorls, querns and weaving combs. Approximately 50 burials have also been identified, many within a cemetery at the eastern end of the site. Scheduled. <30>

Maiden Castle, known primarily for its Iron Age hillfort, which is one of the largest and most complex in Europe, includes multi-period remains on a chalk hilltop of the South Dorset Downs. The site has been excavated by Edward Cunnington (1884), Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1934-1937) and N Sharples (1985-1986). The earliest features to be identified include a group of pits associated with Early Neolithic flint working, believed to date to around 4000 BC when the hilltop was first cleared of woodland. A causewayed enclosure was built soon after, on the eastern plateau, which may have contained a long barrow and is associated with two infant burials. The Iron Age hillfort overlies this enclosure. In around 3500 BC, after the enclosure had fallen out of use, a bank barrow was constructed, part of which overlies the western end of the enclosure. In the Later Neolithic and Bronze Age periods two barrows and a small enclosure were constructed. <35> <40>

There are believed to be three main phases for the Iron Age occupation of the site. Initially, in the Early Iron Age, it was a univallate hillfort, defined by a single rampart comprising of a chalk bank, an outer ditch and intervening berm. These ramparts were broken by entrances to the east and west guarded by timber gates. During the second half of the 3rd century BC, the ramparts were extended to the west and during the mid-2nd century BC, the ramparts were rebuilt on a larger scale. The ramparts of the later multivallate hillfort consisted of three banks and two ditches around the hilltop, with an extra bank and ditch to the south, and two complex entrances. The interior of the fort was intensively occupied. Excavation revealed traces of circular and rectangular huts evident from post holes, trenches and floor remains as well as what has been interpreted as roads, gullies, storage pits and ovens. The largest circular building is believed to have developed into a shrine. Over 50 human burials have also been identified, many within a cemetery at the eastern end of the site. One of the most notable finds was a Roman ballista within the vertebrae of an adult man. <8> <25> <35>

Occupation of the hilltop declined following the Roman Conquest, and the Roman town of Durnovaria (now Dorchester) was established to the north east at Dorchester. A Romano-Celtic temple was built at the eastern end of the fort, during the 4th century AD. The building comprised a central block, or cella, surrounded by a corridor or verandah, within a walled precinct. The cella may have had a black and white mosaic floor, while the corridor had a red tesserated pavement. The structure was built of flint and limestone and roofed with stone tiles, later replaced by clay. During the post-Roman period the hilltop was used to graze stock and a number of dewponds were constructed to provide water. <8> <25> <35>

Additional source on Maiden Castle in a work of synthesis about the sites of prehistoric Dorset. <32>

Source 32 inlcudes a brief accessible overview of the development of Maiden Castle for visitors. <33>

Stewart, D, 2013, Maiden Castle, Dorset. A Geophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SDO21395.

<1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1865, Archaeological Journal 22, 351-356 (Serial). SDO20219.

<2> Cuming, H Syer, 1872, Report on Ancient Remains found at Maiden Castle. Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 39-45 (Article in serial). SDO20583.

<3> 1872, Journal of the British Archaeological Association 28, 99-102 (Serial). SWX2433.

<4> Forster, R H, 1907, Notes on Maiden Castle. Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 169-171 (Article in serial). SDO20586.

<5> Clift, J G N, 1907, Neolithic Implements from Dorset. Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 172-175 (Article in serial). SDO20585.

<6> Wheeler, R E M, 1936, The Excavation of Maiden Castle, Dorset. First Interim Report (Article in serial). SDO16395.

<7> Wheeler, R E M, 1937, The Excavation of Maiden Castle, Dorset. Third Interim Report (Article in serial). SDO16396.

<8> Wheeler, R E M, 1943, Maiden Castle, Dorset (Monograph). SDO17278.

<9> Meaney, A L, 1964, A Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon burial sites, 81 (Bibliographic reference). SWX4310.

<10> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 493-501 (Monograph). SDO150.

<11> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1975, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1974, 53 (Serial). SDO74.

<12> Hogg, A H A, 1979, British hillforts: an index, 225 (Monograph). SDO17414.

<13> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 20-JUN-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<14> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1982 (Serial). SDO82.

<15> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1983, 160-162 (Serial). SDO83.

<16> Frere, S S, and St Joseph, J K St, 1983, Roman Britain from the Air, 6-8 (Monograph). SDO20581.

<17> 1984, Aerial Archaeology: the journal for air photography and archaeology, 11-12 (Serial). SDO20580.

<18> Corney, M, Dunn, C, McOmish, D, and Bowden, M, RCHME Field Investigator's comments (Unpublished document). SDO20346.

<19> Wainwright, G J, and Cunliffe, B W, 1985, Maiden Castle: excavation, education, entertainment? (Article in serial). SDO16402.

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<20> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1986, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1985, 111-119 (Serial). SDO85.

<21> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1987, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1986, 53-62 (Serial). SDO86.

<22> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1988, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1987, 124 (Serial). SDO87.

<23> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1988, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1987, 81, 102, 124, 125 (Serial). SDO87.

<24> Lawson, A J, 1990, The Prehistoric Hinterland of Maiden Castle (Article in serial). SDO16397.

<25> Sharples, N M, 1991, Maiden Castle Excavations and field survey 1985-6 (Monograph). SDO10017.

<26> Sharples, N M, 1991, English Heritage Book of Maiden Castle (Monograph). SDO20582.

<27> Woodward, Peter J, 1991, The South Dorset Ridgeway. Survey and Excavations 1977-84, No 8 (Monograph). SDO11947.

<28> Geake, Helen, 1997, The Use of Grave-Goods in Conversion-Period England, c.600-c.850, 150-151 (Monograph). SWX4066.

<29> Smith, R J C et al, 1997, Excavations along the Route of the Dorchester By-pass, Dorset, 1986-8, No 11 (Monograph). SDO9379.

<30> English Heritage, Scheduled Monument Notification, 24-Sep-97 (Scheduling record). SDO17381.

<31> English Heritage, English Heritage visitors' handbook 1998-99, 80 (Monograph). SDO20584.

<32> Gale, J, 2003, Prehistoric Dorset, 11, 41, 109, 114-115, 116, 119-122, 164-165 (Monograph). SDO20473.

<33> Carter, Katy (ed), 2004, Heritage Unlocked: Guide to free sites in Devon, Dorset and Somerset, 52-55 (Monograph). SDO18928.

<34> Tatler, S and Bellamy, P S, 2006, Badger Sett Remedial Work, Maiden Castle, Winterborne St Martin, Dorset. Archaeological Observations and Recording, October 2006. (Unpublished document). SDO14592.

<35> EnglIsh Heritage, English Heritage Members' and Visitors' handbook 2008/9, 104-105 (Monograph). SDO18006.

<36> Bellamy, P, 2014, Maiden Castle, Winterborne St Martin, Dorset. Observations and Recording during water trough and fencing repairs (Unpublished document). SDO14983.

<37> Randall, C, 2017, Maiden Castle, Dorchester, Dorset. Archaeological Monitoring and Recording Report. (Unpublished document). SDO15407.

<38> Lock, G, and Ralston, I, 2017, Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland [ONLINE], EN3598 (Digital archive). SDO17130.

<39> Randall, C, 2018, Fencing Replacement, Maiden Castle, Dorset. Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Unpublished document). SDO16453.

<40> RCHME: Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic (Monograph). SWX1665.

<41> National Monuments Record, 12-MAY-2002, PGA_SY6688, PGA_SY6788 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11813.

<42> National Record of the Historic Environment, 451864 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 7 2025 12:39PM