Questions and Answers
The Long Man of Wilmington in Sussex is widely accepted to be prehistoric.
False
The Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire was previously dated to the ancient pre-Roman Iron Age.
True
The method of creating hill figures was by placing chalk on the hillside to form the desired shape.
False
Hill figures in England were primarily created on the northern counties of the country.
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Most hill figures in England have survived in their original shape and form.
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The Uffington White Horse is situated 5 km from Uffington village.
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The Uffington White Horse is surrounded by Neolithic burial mounds.
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The earliest evidence of a horse at Uffington is from the 11th century CE.
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The Uffington White Horse is best appreciated from close quarters.
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The OSL testing in 1995 dated the horse's construction to the 1st century CE.
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Study Notes
Hill Figures in England
- There are 56 hill figures scattered around England, mostly on the chalk downlands of southern counties.
- The figures include giants, horses, crosses, and regimental badges.
- The majority of these geoglyphs date back to the last 300 years, but some are much older.
The Uffington White Horse
- The Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire is the most famous and mysterious hill figure.
- It was re-dated and found to be even older than its previously assigned ancient pre-Roman Iron Age date.
- The horse is a unique, stylized representation with a long, sleek back, thin disjointed legs, a streaming tail, and a bird-like beaked head.
- It is situated 2.5 km from Uffington village on a steep close to the Late Bronze Age hillfort of Uffington Castle and below the Ridgeway, a long-distance Neolithic track.
- The horse is surrounded by Bronze Age burial mounds and is not far from the Bronze Age cemetery of Lambourn Seven Barrows.
Dating the Uffington White Horse
- The earliest evidence of the horse is from the 1070s CE, but it is believed to date back much further.
- The horse is similar to stylized depictions of horses on 1st century BCE coins.
- In 1995, OSL testing dated the horse's construction between 1400 and 600 BCE, indicating a Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age origin.
- The latter end of this date range ties the carving of the horse to the occupation of the nearby Uffington hillfort, suggesting it may represent a tribal emblem.
Creating and Maintaining Hill Figures
- The method of cutting these huge figures was to remove the overlying grass to reveal the white chalk below.
- The grass would soon grow over the geoglyph again unless it was regularly cleaned or scoured by a large team of people.
- This is why many hill figures have disappeared over time, as the traditions associated with them faded.
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Description
Explore the history and significance of England's 56 hill figures, including the famous Uffington White Horse, and discover their ages and meanings.
