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Hod Hill

Dorset, England · Atlas EN3595

Hod Hill is a partial contour fort in Hanford, Dorset, England.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial bivallate and partial multivallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank, counterscarp bank, and unfinished work, and an enclosed area of 22 hectares.

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

The topographic record places it on a hilltop, at 144 m, and facing west.

Recorded land use includes pasture.

Dating evidence is recorded for 800–400 BC, 400 BC–AD 50, and AD 50–400 (Artefactual). Reliability is recorded as B - Medium.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1002678).

Location

Atlas number
EN3595 (3595)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
Dorset
Historic county
Dorset
Parish, community, or townland
Hanford
National Grid reference
ST85651066
Latitude
50.89507
Longitude
-2.20515
Altitude
144 m

Form and condition

Type
partial contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial bivallate and partial multivallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
3
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 3, SE 2, SW 2, NW 3
Number of ditches
3
Possible original entrances
4
Breaks through the ramparts
5
Enclosed area
22 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank, counterscarp bank, and unfinished work
Enclosing works, excavated
earthen bank, timber-framed wall, and palisade
Also recorded
multi-period enclosure system, ditches, and gang working
Entrance forms
In-turned (North east); Hornwork (North east); In-turned (South west); Outworks (South west); Simple Gap (North west); Simple Gap (East)

Landscape

Topographic position
hilltop
Aspect
west
Land use
pasture

Dating

Dating
800–400 BC, 400 BC–AD 50, and AD 50–400
Dating evidence
Artefactual
Dating reliability
B - Medium

Interior and investigation

Interior surface
curvilinear platforms, other roundhouse evidence, pits, and quarry hollows
Interior excavation
pits, postholes, and roundhouses
Finds
pottery, metal, metalworking, human bones, animal bones, and lithics
Investigations
1st Identified Map Depiction (1841); Excavation (1949); Other (1966); Excavation (2001); Other (2016); 1st Identified Written Reference (1665-1693); Excavation (1830-1839); Excavation (1951-1958); Geophysical Survey (2005-2006); Excavation (1899)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1002678
HER
Dorset MDO4809
National record
record ST 81 SE 20; monument 206122
Wikidata
Q31115917

Sources

References

  1. Boyd Dawkins, W.A. 1900. The exploration of Hod Hill near Blandford, Dorset, in 1897, Arch J, 57, 52-68.
  2. Brailsford, J.W. 1949. Interim Report on Preliminary Excavations at Hod Hill, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 71, 41-50.
  3. Gale, J. 2003. Prehistoric Dorset, Stroud: Tempus Publishing.
  4. Papworth, M. 2001. Hod Hill, Stourpaine, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 123,125.
  5. RCHME 1970. An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol 3, pt 2, Central Dorset, 263-65, London: RCHME.
  6. Richmond, I.A. 1951. Excavation of the Early Iron Age camp and Roman fort at Hod Hill, Stourpaine, Proc Dorset Natur Hist Archaeol Soc, 73, 105.
  7. Richmond, I.A. 1968. Hod Hill Vol 2. Excavations carried out between 1951 and 1958 for the Trustees of the British Museum, London: British Museum.
  8. Stewart, D. 2005. A Geophysical Survey at Hod Hill, Stourpaine, Dorset. Supplementary Study. University of Bournemouth.
  9. Stewart D. 2006 A GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY AT HOD HILL, STOURPAINE, DORSET. National Trust.
  10. ( 2) The Antiquaries journal : journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London
  11. 57, 1900 Page(s)52-68
  12. ( 3) General reference
  13. Wessex from the Air. 1928. 36-41 (Crawford & Keiller)
  14. ( 4) Society for Promotion of Roman Studies The journal of Roman studies
  15. I A Richmond 40-47, 1950-57
  16. ( 5) Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society
  17. 23, 1957 Page(s)222-3
  18. ( 6) Aerial photograph
  19. AP (J K St Joseph AR 75)
  20. ( 7) Field Investigators Comments
  21. F1 NVQ 08-JAN-62
  22. ( 8) General reference
  23. Hod Hill 1 1962 (J Brailsford)
  24. ( 9) General reference
  25. Hod Hill 2 1968 (I Richmond)
  26. (10) Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England) 1970 An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset. Volume three : central Dorset [in two parts]
  27. PART 2 Page(s)263-5
  28. (14) General reference
  29. BAR 62 British Hill-Forts: An Index. 1979. 205 (AHA Hogg)
  30. (11) General reference
  31. The Place-Names of Roman Britain. 1979. 344 (A L F Rivet & C Smith)
  32. (12) Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Britannia : a journal of Romano-British and kindred studies
  33. 17, 1986 Page(s)60, 65, 66
  34. (13) Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Britannia : a journal of Romano-British and kindred studies
  35. 15, 1984 Page(s)77-84