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Bindon Hill

Dorset, England · Atlas EN3582

Bindon Hill is a contour fort in West Lulworth, Dorset, England.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial univallate and partial bivallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank, counterscarp bank, berm, and unfinished work, and an enclosed area of 114 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a ridge, at 168 m, and facing south.

Recorded land use includes coastal grassland.

Dating evidence is recorded for 400 BC–AD 50 (Artefactual). Reliability is recorded as B - Medium.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1002705).

Location

Atlas number
EN3582 (3582)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
Dorset
Historic county
Dorset
Parish, community, or townland
West Lulworth
National Grid reference
SY835802
Latitude
50.62010
Longitude
-2.23366
Altitude
168 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial univallate and partial bivallate
Complete rampart circuit
No
Number of ramparts
2
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 1, SE 0, SW 0, NW 2
Number of ditches
1
Possible original entrances
1
Breaks through the ramparts
1
Enclosed area
114 ha
Footprint
160 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank, counterscarp bank, berm, and unfinished work
Enclosing works, excavated
palisade
Also recorded
guard chambers, ditches, and gang working
Entrance forms
In-turned (North west); Recesses/Guard Chambers (North west)

Landscape

Topographic position
ridge
Aspect
south
Land use
coastal grassland
Water source
stream

Dating

Dating
400 BC–AD 50
Dating evidence
Artefactual
Dating reliability
B - Medium

Interior and investigation

Interior surface
curvilinear platforms, other roundhouse evidence, and quarry hollows
Interior excavation
postholes
Finds
pottery
Investigations
Other (1770); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1889); Excavation (1950); Other (1966); Other (1977); Other (1981); Excavation (1985); Other (2016); 1st Identified Written Reference (1201-1300)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1002705
HER
Dorset MDO8257
National record
record SY 88 SW 2; monument 455543
Wikidata
Q4914040

Sources

References

  1. Brown, I. 2009. Beacons in the landscape. The hillforts of England and Wales, Oxford: Windgather Press/Oxbow Books.
  2. Darvill, T., Stamper, P. and Timby, J. 2002. England an archaeological guide, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 376.
  3. Gale, J. 2003. Prehistoric Dorset, Stroud: Tempus Publishing.
  4. Graham, A.H. 1986. Dorset archaeology in 1986. Excavations at Bindon Hill, West Lulworth, Dorset, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 108, 174.
  5. Hogg, A.H.A. 1979. British hillforts: an index. Hillfort Study Group Occasional Paper No. 1. Oxford: BAR 1.
  6. Keen, L.J. and Thackray, W.R. 1978. Dorset archaeology in 1977. West Lulworth, Bindon Hill, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 99, 125.
  7. Wheeler, R.E.M. 1953. An Early Iron Age beach-head at Lulworth, Dorset, Ant J, 33, 1-13.
  8. Wilkes, E. 2004. Iron Age coastal nodes on the English Channel coast. An investigation into early ports and harbours, monograph.