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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