An Iron Age History Mystery - Hill Forts PDF

## An Iron Age History Mystery - Hill Forts Nearly 2000 hill forts have been discovered, ranging in size. The largest known hill fort is Maiden Castle located in Dorset. Building these forts required large scale, cooperative efforts. For example, Ravensburgh Castle in Hertfordshire had a rampart ne...

## An Iron Age History Mystery - Hill Forts Nearly 2000 hill forts have been discovered, ranging in size. The largest known hill fort is Maiden Castle located in Dorset. Building these forts required large scale, cooperative efforts. For example, Ravensburgh Castle in Hertfordshire had a rampart nearly 14 meters high and encompassed a perimeter of 1190 meters. Building this structure required 19,000 lengths of timber for the palisade. Using picks made from deer antlers and wooden shovels, construction would have taken 175,000 man hours to complete, which translates to 109 days for 200 men. ### Why were hill forts built? Historians and archaeologists disagree on the purpose of hill forts. They may have been used for different purposes at different times. * Hill forts may have served as places of safety during times of war. However, their elevated location could make water supply problematic. * Given their prominent position in the landscape, hill forts may have served as defensive structures. Evidence of fighting and deaths at entrances suggests this use. * Hill forts may have been meeting places or ceremonial centers for different tribes where treaties were negotiated, weddings took place, and trade occurred. * Some hill forts contain the remains of houses and grain storage pits, suggesting they were inhabited during parts of the year. * The presence of animal pens in some hill forts implies their use as grazing areas for livestock, providing protection during conflicts. * Some hill forts show possible evidence of sacrifices made to the gods. The image depicts an aerial view of Maiden Castle hill fort. ### Think About It! 1. Where do historians and archaeologists obtain information about hill forts? How does this information help them develop interpretations about the uses of hill forts? 2. Why do you think people dedicated so much time and effort to building these structures?