The History of the Hillfort

There are few structures as seemingly naturalistic yet distinguishable as the hillfort. The structures’ name is entirely descriptive of their form - they were elevated earthworks, fortified to promote defensive advantage, and varying in size and stature according to the date in which they were built. As hillforts are inextricable from the landscapes and cultures they are surrounded by, those who grew up in the United Kingdom and Ireland usually learned about their history as the foundations of their historical knowledge. 

What are hillforts?

As their name suggests, hillforts are forts built on a hilltop. Constructed by Celtic tribes during the Iron Age, hillforts were typically enclosed by a system of ditches intended as protection from invading tribes.

These forts also consisted of ramparts made of earth, stone, and wood. Inside the forts, the Celts lived in one-room roundhouses with pointed roofs and walls constructed from a wattle and daub technique. This technique involved weaving sticks and twigs together and covering them with mud and clay until they solidified. 

An open fire was often constantly lit in the centre of these roundhouses, the walls were decorated with jars, and the beds were made from animal skins and straw. The roundhouses had no windows, so a small hole in the thatched roof was created to let smoke escape.

Furthermore, during the more bitter winter months, it was not uncommon for the farm animals to be housed inside the roundhouses with families. 

As the population in northern Europe increased in approximately 1100 BC, so too did the number of hillforts. In contrast to the southern parts of Europe, where settlements could house roughly 50 inhabitants, hillforts could home up to 1,000 people. The structures were used as homes for tribes, sources of safety from invasion, religious rituals, and crafting and farming. Many of the earlier hillforts were abandoned, but as time passed, more elaborate hillforts were built - many of which stood the test of time and can still be seen today.

In the early 20th century, historians assumed that hillforts were built principally for military reasons. Thus, excavation attempts focused on the ditches surrounding the forts. However, in the second half of the century, recognition was given to the importance of hillforts’ interiors and their function. Based on many of these archaeological discoveries, it was determined that the hillfort was the epitome of defensive weaponry, wealth, and power from the Iron Age. However, in recent years, acknowledgement has been given to the role that hillforts played in family and social lives.  

The most infamous hillforts

Maiden Castle

Hillforts varied massively in size and stature depending on the time in which they were built. For this reason, there are hillforts that are more expansive and well known than others. For example, Maiden Castle (derived from ‘Mai Dun’ - the Gaelic for ‘great hill’) is the most significant Iron Age hillfort in Europe. Maiden Castle is truly a sight to behold - covering approximately forty-seven acres, it can be found slightly short of Dorchester, England, and has ditches and ramparts twenty feet high and over five hundred metres in length. 

Archaeological digs of Maiden Castle unearthed flint tools, bronze age burial mounds, and objects from the early bronze age. Therefore, it is believed that the construction of the hillfort began in roughly 3000 BC. However, many of Maiden Castle’s still-standing structures were built during the Iron Age, when the fort was probably extended and its defensive barriers fortified. Not only did its inhabitants create three ditches, but they heightened the ramparts and built a wooden fence with unaligned entrances - making it even more arduous for the enemies to breach Maiden Castle’s defences. 

The Danebury Hillfort

Constructed in approximately 700 BC to 43 AD, the Danesbury Hillfort remains one of the most studied hillforts in Europe. Thought to be occupied for roughly five hundred years, the fort housed a community of between three or four hundred people. It is believed that this community predominantly consisted of farmers who crafted their own goods from wool and leather. Access to natural resources was limited from Danesbury; thus, its inhabitants relied on trading their goods for necessary iron, copper, stone, and salt. 

There may also have been druids, medicine men, and lawmakers in the Danebury community. In fact, historians believe that religion was an essential element of life for its inhabitants. Evidence of several shrines and temples were found within the inner circle of the fort, and there is a high area in the centre of the ring which may have been used for religious events. Thus, based on this information and sacrificial evidence, it is thought that the community worshipped their pagan gods through offerings and sacrifices. 

There likely were repeated invasion attempts of Danesbury hillfort, as excavations of the site unearthed javelins, spears, and swords.  Furthermore, when under attack, the villagers probably shut their large gates to prevent entry to the fort - as several burnt sections confirm violent conflicts/attacks. 

Interestingly, a chondrite meteorite was also found during the excavation of Danesbury - which may lead to more questions than it answers!

Battlesbury Camp

Located in Wilshire, Battlesbury Camp has provided us with an alternative viewpoint of life during the Iron Age. 

Named after an apparently legendary battle on the hill on which it was built, not only was the structure designed to make it inaccessible from the west and northwest, but it also had three ditches and ramparts to prevent invasion. Battlesbury Camp may have consisted of a fearsome tribe of people, as evidence suggests that its inhabitants raised their dead up on high platforms as either a religious passage into the afterlife or a deterrent to invading tribes. What’s more, animal skulls symbolically marked a blocked off entrance to the site - perhaps additional evidence of their attempts at discouraging invading forces. 

Furthermore, the villages at Battlesbury Camp angled their roundhouses’ entrances to catch the equinox sunrise - therefore, marking the winter solstice. Consequently, it is clear how important it was for the community to record the seasons for farming purposes such as sowing and ploughing. 

Excavations of Battlesbury discovered chariot wheels, tools, pottery, weapons, combs, and needles on site. Yet, curiously, one of the more significant discoveries was a rare coral bead from the Mediterranean - suggesting that the inhabitants of Battlesbury Camp were invested in long-distance trade. 

The history of hillforts and you

If you would like to know more about your link to ancient history, then upload your raw DNA data today - our basic analysis is free. Through uploading your DNA results onto our website, we can use our advanced methods to determine whether there’s any association between your genetics and that of the ancient Celtic inhabitants of hillforts. It’s never been so easy to know the history of you.