More information : (SU 323376) Intrenchment (GT) (on 'Danebury Hill). (1) Danebury, the finest of the Hampshire hill-forts, shows a sequence of earthworks which Hawkes (6) says should start with IA 'A' and probably end with IA 'B'. It has never been excavated and the only discoveries recorded are : (i) An antler weaving comb, in BM (5), which is illustrated in BM Later Prehistoric Guide and is of Henshall's IA 'B' type; (ii) An IA A2 sherd, in BM (6); (iii) Sling-stones 'from an ammunition dump', in Winchester Museum (5); (iv) A silver Durotrigian coin found before 1858, in BM (7); (v) A cannon-ball and hammer and anvil, in Winchester Museum (2); (vi) Three ritual pits which might be anything from BA to IA (8,9) - one was in the south part of the interior and contained fragments of coarse pottery (8); (vii) 'Many antiquities and coins.... now unfortunately dispersed (8). See Diagram 1 for physical detail. (2-9) 1/2500 survey revised. The earthworks are in very good condition. See further annotations on Diagram 1. The 'tail' of the 'Outer Ringwork' has been traced to SU 33473764. It is a typical BA 'ranch-boundary', and is possibly MBA as at SU 33393764 it is overlain by a ploughed-down barrow, probably a BA bowl. (10) Excavation by Professor Cunliffe of Southampton University in August 1969 shows that all the earthworks are Iron Age, dating from 3rd century BC to 1st. century AD. The 'Inner Ringwork' was of some five phases, the first (a simple stockade and V- ditch) being probably the earliest work on the site. The 'Outer Ringwork' belongs probably to the second phase. Finds, beside pottery, were a gold stater, a La Tene fibula, and a hoard of currency bars. The last was found adjacent to a hut floor just inside the 'Inner Ringwork'. (11) History of the site as deduced from 3 years excavation under Professor Cunliffe: 1. Hill-top first a ritual site, probably in the late Bronze Age, crowned by a circle of tall posts set in ritual pits (one with (?) sacrifice of dog). 2. First hill-fort built 5th C BC, after the ritual posts had rotted and the pits silted up; circular huts were associated with this phase. 3. About 400 BC, or perhaps a little earlier, there was a major change. In the interior regular rows of rectangular house structures were established along planned streets, while an impressive entrance was built on the east side, and the defences were strengthened and remodelled. Danebury had become a major hill-town and the seat of considerable political authority. This condition continued for some 300 years with regular maintenance of the defences and rebuilding of the houses. 4. About 100 BC the eastern gateway was completely rebuilt on a grand scale and with complex defensive hornworks; perhaps due to the threat of Belgic invasion ? Soon after, however, the gate was destroyed, and the fort abandoned. 5. Finally the fort was hastily recommissioned about 50 AD with tall rampart and wide ditch; but the occupation was either sparse or very temporary. this phase was probably connected with the threatened Roman invasion. The Earthworks: 6. The inner rampart and counterscarp bank ('Inner Ringwork' and 'Middle Ringwork' on Diagram 1) were the only real defensive features in all phases. 7 The two outer works ('Annexe Ringwork' and 'Outer Ringwork' on Diagram 1) were both only stock enclosures, the latter made when the new complex entrance (100 BC) denied access to the former. (The blocked west entrance has not yet been elucidated). (12) Excavations at Danebury have continued annually to 1980, largely confirming the conclusions drawn in authority 12. (13) Interim report of the first two seasons of excavation (14) Interim report of five seasons of excavation from 1971-5 (19). A continuous strip 30-40m. wide extending across the centre of the fort from on side to the other was completely excavated revealing its, gullies, circular stake-built houses, rectangular buildings and 2-, 4- and 6- post structures ranging in date from the 6th century BC to the ends of the second century BC. About 100BC rectangular buildings, possibly of a religious nature, were erected. (15-19) Excavations from 1976-80 have located further pits, houses and buildings, as well as a main road crossing the fort from the east entrance. Three more rectangular 'ritual' buildings have also been found. In 1979, occupation rubbish containing mid-1st century AD pottery was discovered; this is the first time material of this date has been found within the fort (20-22) A hoard of twelve bronze axes and other objects of the 7th century BC was discovered within the fort in 1974 and 1977. This suggests that occupation at Danebury may have begun as early as the 7th century BC (23). Scheduled (24) (SU 323376) Danebury (NR) (25). No change. (26). Full excavation report, 1969-78 (27). Interim report on excavations, 1976-80 (28). Excavations during 1981-4 examined the gateway at the blocked west entrance and the IA road leading to it. The blocking of the gate and the heightening and broadening of the rampart was dated to 400- 350 BC thereby indicating an unusually early date for the outer hornworks. Areas of occupation immediately behind the gateway and in the NE quadrant of the fort were also examined (29-32). Aerial photographic interpretation of Danebury's environs (33).
Additional bibliography (34).
Excavations at the Hillfort ended in 1988. Reports covering the whole excavations have been published. (35-37)
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