Maiden Castle, Dorchester, Dorset | Historic Dorset Guide HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS: Roman foundations lie within the hilltop site Maiden Castle, earthwork banks Maiden Castle is the largest and most famous pre-Roman fortress in Britain. The site is not a "castle" in the medieval sense of the term, but a hilltop enclosure defended by high banks and ditches. Maiden Castle is nearly 47 acres in size, with banks as high as 80 feet. The term "maiden" may be misleading; it derives from the pre-Celtic (Brythonic) term "mai dun", which is usually translated as "great hill", but may also be rendered as "principle fort". A causewayed camp was erected on the hill as far back as 3500 BCE, and later a bank barrow measuring an impressive 1800 feet was added. Sometime around 350 BCE the hill was turned into a full-fledged hill fort, probably under the direction of the Durotriges tribe, the region's dominant Celtic tribe. Most of the visible ramparts were erected in the 1st century BC.

These consist of three concentric rings of ditches and banks, with the entrance through each bank offset to isolate any invader who managed to penetrate the defenses. The main entrance defensive earthworks In 43 AD the Romans under Vespasian besieged the "castle". The defender's huge store of some 40,000 sling stones brought up from nearby Chesil Beach proved useless against the Roman's leather shields, and Maiden Castle fell to the invaders. A mass grave of 38 defenders who died in the assault was found in 1937 near the eastern entrance. Each defender had been laid to rest with a joint of meat and a flagon of beer to take with them into the afterlife; a testament to the high regard the Romans must have had for the courage of their foes. During the 4th century the Romans erected a small temple within the boundaries of the fort, the foundations of which can still be seen. Operated by English Heritage, Maiden Castle is open all year at any reasonable time.

About Maiden Castle Dig Unearths Prehistoric Town | Bournemouth University Dig Unearths Prehistoric Town Dig Unearths Prehistoric Town A previously unknown prehistoric town, which archaeologists have dubbed 'Duropolis' after the local Iron Age tribe (the Durotriges), has been uncovered by Bournemouth University students as a part of an archaeological dig near Winterborne Kingston in Dorset. Remains of 16 Iron Age roundhouses have been examined and geophysical survey has revealed that at least 150 roundhouses and associated features lying along a hill-slope in East Dorset. The find could shed light on what happened to the prehistoric inhabitants of Maiden Castle when they moved on from the hill-fort in the 1st Century BC. The township is one of the largest ever discovered in Britain and also shed light on what life was like for our ancestors before the Roman invasion in the middle of the 1st Century AD. Dr Miles Russell, an archaeologist at Bournemouth University and co-director of the Durotriges Big Dig said, “We’ve exposed remains of 16 roundhouses in the two trenches we’ve dug.

They are pre-Roman house structures, the last that inhabitants would have been living in before the Romans arrived. We know that there are around 200 of these across this area, so we’ve got ourselves a prehistoric town or proto-urban settlement. “What we’ve discovered is extremely significant for the whole of Southern Britain because in the past archaeologists have tended to look at really obvious sites, like the big hill-fort of Maiden Castle, near Dorchester. What we have here is an extensive open settlement, not a hill fort, so it wasn’t visible as a settlement from the earthwork on the landscape. What we’ve discovered is one of the earliest and largest open settlements in Britain.” Paul Cheetham, another co-director on the dig and also an archaeologist at BU continued, “What this suggests is that there are other big centres of occupation before the Roman arrival, this is a big open settlement, probably one of the first that the Romans encountered when they arrived.

It exposes the myth that everyone lived in protected hill forts – these inhabitants lived in this fertile farmland, away from the traditional hill forts we are all used to hearing about.” As well as the roundhouses, students have also uncovered animal bone remains (which were the subject of this Independent article ), quern-stones (used for grinding), spindle whorls (used in weaving) and metalworking debris, all activities of life in what would have been a vibrant township. The Durotriges Big Dig , hosted yearly by Bournemouth University, gives archaeology and anthropology students a hands-on experience with a live archaeological site. In previous years, students have uncovered Roman villas and skeletal remains, as well as a host of archaeological artefacts. Members of the public were also able to see the discoveries with their own eyes during the Big Dig Open Day on the final day of digging. The Open Day took place as a part of Bournemouth University's Festival of Learning , and was attended by over 1,400 people. One such person was Rob Clitheroe, of West Moors, who said, "I picked up a Twitter message and started following the dig then.

I’ve always been interested in archaeology but the first time I’ve ever done it. I’ve enjoyed my time immensely, seeing this, it’s been fascinating. Absolutely brilliant. The size of the very large roundhouse and the precision with which they cut the trenches, its remarkable. The idea of some of those pits too – the scale and the logistics of it all. I’d absolutely recommend it to others too." For more information about the Durotriges Big Dig, and its discoveries, watch our YouTube video : Durotriges Big Dig 2015 Ten Must See Iron Age Hill Forts In Britain – HeritageDaily – Heritage & Archaeology News Send email Mail A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. The fortification usually follows the contours of a hill, consisting of one or more lines of earthworks, with stockades or defensive walls, and external ditches. Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, roughly the start of the first millennium BC, and were in use by the ancient Britons until the Roman conquest.

There are around 3,300 structures that can be classed as hillforts or similar “defended enclosures” within Britain, all worthy of considering. The following list represents ten of the most impressive examples. 1 : Maiden Castle, Dorset Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hill fort 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south west of Dorchester, in the English county of Dorset. The name Maiden Castle may be a modern construction meaning that the hill fort looks impregnable, or it could derive from the British Celtic mai-dun, meaning a “great hill.” The earliest archaeological evidence of human activity on the site consists of a Neolithic causeway enclosure and bank barrow. In about 1800 BC, during the Bronze Age, the site was used for growing crops before being abandoned. Maiden Castle itself was built in about 600 BC; the early phase was a simple and unremarkable site, similar to many other hill forts in Britain and covering 6.4 hectares (16 acres).

Around 450 BC it underwent major expansion, during which the enclosed area was nearly tripled in size to 19 ha (47 acres), making it the largest hill fort in Britain and by some definitions the largest in Europe Image Credit : Google Earth After the Roman conquest of Britain in the 1st century AD, Maiden Castle appears to have been abandoned, although the Romans may have had a military presence on the site. In the late 4th century AD, a temple and ancillary buildings were constructed. In the 6th century AD the hill top was entirely abandoned and was used only for agriculture during the medieval period. 2 : Old Oswestry Old Oswestry is one of Britain’s most spectacular and impressive early Iron Age hill forts in the Welsh Marches near Oswestry in north west Shropshire. It remains one of the best preserved hill forts in the UK, according to English Heritage. Built on lower ground, it is also one of the most accessible hill forts with stunning panoramic views across North Wales,Cheshire and Shropshire. Image Credit : Google Earth Designated as a scheduled monument (number 27556) in 1997 it is now in the guardianship of English Heritage.

After the Hill Fort was abandoned it was incorporated into Wat’s Dyke where two sections of this are adjacent to the fort. It was occupied between the sixth century BC, probably by the Cornovii tribe or the Ordivice tribe. 3 : Traprain Law Traprain Law is a hill about 221m (724 feet) in elevation, located 6 km (3.7 mi) east of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the site of an oppidum or hill fort, which covered at its maximum extent about 40 acres and must have been a veritable town. Whether it was a seasonal meeting place or permanent settlement is a matter of speculation. Image Credit : Google Earth The hill was already a place of burial by around 1500 BC and showed evidence of occupation and signs of ramparts after 1000 BC. The ramparts were rebuilt and re-aligned many times in the following centuries. Excavations have shown it was occupied in the Late Iron Age from about AD 40 through the last quarter of the 2nd century (about the time that the Antonine Wall was manned).

Following the Roman withdrawal to the line of Hadrian’s Wall it was occupied from about 220 almost uninterruptedly until about 400 when an impressive new rampart was built, then within a few decades the site was abandoned. In the 1st century the Romans recorded the Votadini as a British tribe in the area, and Traprain Law is generally thought to have been one of their major settlements; named “Curia” by Ptolomy. They emerged as a kingdom under the Brythonic version of their name Gododdin and Traprain Law is thought to have been their capital before moving to Din Eidyn. 4 : Hambledon Hill Hambledon Hill is a prehistoric hill fort in Dorset, England, situated in the Blackmore Vale five miles north of Blandford Forum. The hill itself is a Chalk outcrop, on the south western corner of Cranborne Chase, separated from the Dorset Downs by the River Stour. Image Credit : Google Earth It was originally univallate but further circuits of banks and ditches were added increasing its size to 125,000 m².

Three entrances served the fort, the south western with a 100m long hornwork surrounding it. Hut platforms can be seen on the hillside. The site appears to have been abandoned around 300 BC possibly in favour of the nearby site of Hod Hill. 5 : Cadbury Castle Cadbury Castle is a Bronze and Iron Age hill fort in the civil parish of South Cadbury in the English county of Somerset. Cadbury Castle is located 5 miles (8.0 km) north east of Yeovil. It stands on the summit of Cadbury Hill, a limestone hill situated on the southern edge of the Somerset Levels, with flat lowland to the north. The summit is 153 metres (500 ft) above sea-level on lias stone. The hill is surrounded by four terraced earthwork banks and ditches and a stand of trees. The hill fort is overlooked by Sigwells, a rural plateau rich in archaeological remains. Image Credit : Google Earth Excavations of the south west gate in 1968 and 1969 revealed evidence for one or more severe violent episodes, associated with weaponry and destruction by fire.

Whereas the excavator, Leslie Alcock, believed this to have been dated to around AD70, Tabor argues for a date associated with the initial invasion, AD43–44. There was significant activity at the site during the late third and fourth centuries, which may have included the construction of a Romano-Celtic temple. Havinden states that it was the site of vigorous resistance by the Durotriges and Dobunni to the second Augusta Legion under the command of Vespasian. 6 : Battlesbury Camp Battlesbury Camp is the site of an Iron Age bivallate hillfort on Battlesbury Hill in Wiltshire in South West England. Excavations and surveys at the site have uncovered various finds and archaeological data. Battlesbury occupies the summit of an irregular point of down, with its defences following the natural contours of the hill, and being by nature of the site almost inaccessible on the west and northeast sides. It has triple ditches and ramparts for the most part, with double on the southeast side. The site encloses 23.5 acres in all. There are entrances at the northwest and northwest corners.

Image Credit : Google Earth Pits found within the fortifications contained late Iron Age pottery, the hub of a chariot wheel, an iron carpenter’s saw, a latch-lifter for a hut door, querns, whetstones, sling stones, and animal bones. These all indicate a permanent occupation and date from the 1st century BC. Unfortunately it is suspected that the hills inhabitants came to a violent end, due to the many graves containing men, women and children outside of the northwest entrance. It can only be guessed at whether Roman legions put people to the sword, or if this was the result of intertribal warfare sometime before the Roman conquest 7 : The British Camp The British Camp is an Iron Age hill fort located at the top of Herefordshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills. The hillfort is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is owned and maintained by Malvern Hills Conservators. The fort is thought to have been first constructed in the 2nd century BC. A Norman castle was later built on the site. Image Credit : Google Earth The British Camp is composed of extensive earthworks that have been compared to a giant wedding cake.

There are a number of generally round hut platforms on the British Camp, which may well suggest a permanent occupation. 8 : Cissbury Ring Cissbury Ring is a hill fort on the South Downs, in the borough of Worthing, and about 5 kilometres (3 mi) from its town centre, in the English county of West Sussex. It is the largest hill fort in Sussex, the second largest in England and one of the largest in Britain and Europe overall, covering some 60 acres (24 hectares). The earthworks that form the fortifications were built around the beginning of the Middle Iron-Age possibly around 250 BC but abandoned in the period 50 BC – 50 AD. Image Credit : Google Earth The ditches and banks are the remains of a defensive wall that enclosed 65 acres (260,000 m2) of land; the inner band of the wall is over a mile around. The ditches are said to be as deep as three metres and were filled with loosened chalk and covered with timber palisades. 9 : Danebury Danebury is an Iron Age hill fort in Hampshire in England, about 19 kilometres (12 mi) north-west of Winchester.

The site, covering 5 hectares (12 acres), was excavated in the 1970s. Danebury is considered a type-site for hill forts, and was important in developing the understanding of hill forts, as very few others have been so intensively excavated. Image Credit : Google Earth Built in the 6th century BC, the fort was in use for almost 500 years, during a period when the number of hill forts in Wessex greatly increased. Danebury was remodelled several times, making it more complex and resulting in it becoming a “developed” hill fort. It is now protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. 10 : Woden Law Situated in the Cheviot hills on the Scottish borders, Woden Law rises to 422m (1384 feet) 1¼ miles (2 km) west of the English border and 9 miles (15 km) southeast of Jedburgh. There is a substantial hill fort on the summit with multiple defensive ramparts. Image Credit : Google Earth The ramparts belong to three phases of construction, the innermost rampart surrounds the remains of several timber round houses.

Linear earthworks on the lower slopes formed parts of an Iron Age field-system during the occupation of the fort. The fort was abandoned during the Roman expansion in Britannia. Contributing Source : WikiPedia & Google Types and History of Castles - Ancient Castles & Roman Forts Types of Castle & The History of Castles Ancient Castles & Roman Forts Early European Fortifications It was not until the Bronze Age that hill forts were developed in Europe, which then proliferated across Europe in the Iron Age. These structures used earthworks rather than stone as a building material. Many earthworks survive today, along with evidence of palisades to accompany the ditches. In Europe, opida emerged in the 2nd century BC; these were densely inhabited fortified settlements, such as the opidum of Manching, and developed from hill forts. The Romans encountered fortified settlements such as hill forts and opida when expanding their territory into northern Europe. Although primitive, they were often effective, and were only overcome by the use of siege engines and other siege warfare techniques. The Romans' own fortifications (castra) varied from simple temporary earthworks thrown up by armies on the move, to elaborate permanent stone constructions.

Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hill fort 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south west of Dorchester, in the English county of Dorset.] Hill forts were fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age. The name Maiden Castle may be a modern construction meaning that the hill fort looks impregnable, or it could derive from the British Celtic mai-dun, meaning a "great hill." A typical opidum in Gaul Maiden Castle today Maiden Castle as it would have looked Oppida An oppidum (plural oppida) is a large defended settlement., the earliest ones dat back to the Iron age. Oppida are associated with the Celtic La Tène culture, emerging during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, spread across Europe, stretching from Britain and Iberia in the west to the edge of the Hungarian plain in the east. They continued in use until the Romans began conquering Europe. North of the River Danube, where the population remained independent from Rome, oppida continued to be used into the Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space".

Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age settlements he encountered in Gaul as oppida, and the term is now used to describe the large pre-Roman towns that existed all across western and central Europe. The main features of the oppida are the walls and gates, the spacious layout, and commanding view of the surrounding area. Size and construction varied considerably. Typically oppida in Bohemia and Bavaria were larger than those found in the north and west of France. Typically oppida in Britain are small, but there is a group of large oppida in the south east; though oppida are uncommon in northern Britain, Stanwick stands out as an unusual example as it covers 350 hectares (860 acres). Stone walls supported by a bank of earth, called Kelheim ramparts, were characteristic of oppida in central Europe. To the east timbers were often used to support the earthen ramparts, called the Preist type. In western Europe, the murus gallicus, a timber frame nailed together, was the dominant form of rampart construction. Dump ramparts, that is earth unsupported by timber, were common in Britain and were later adopted in France.

Oppida can be divided into two broad groups, those around the Mediterranean coast and those further inland. The latter group were larger, more varied, and spaced further apart. Oppida originated in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. Most were built on fresh sites, usually on an elevated position. Such a location would have allowed the settlement to dominate nearby trade routes and may also have been important as a symbol of control of the area. While some oppida grew from hill forts, by no means all of them had significant defensive functions. The development of oppida was a milestone in the urbanisation of the continent as they were the first large settlements north of the Mediterranean that could genuinely be described as towns. Caesar pointed out that each tribe of Gaul would have several oppida but that they were not all of equal importance, perhaps implying some form of settlement hierarchy. Oppida continued in use until the Romans began conquering Iron Age Europe. In Germany north of the River Danube, which remained unsubdued by the Romans, oppida continued in use until the late 1st century AD. In conquered lands, the Romans used the infrastructure of the oppida to administer the empire, and many became full Roman towns.

This often involved a change of location from the hilltop into the plain. Roman Forts Roman forts were generally located in permanent military encampments called castra. In English, the terms Roman Fortress, Roman Fort and Roman Camp are generally used to denote these castra. In classical Latin the word castrum denotes a legionary encampment, whether temporary, semi permanent or permanent. A large encampment was a castrum, and a small one a castellum (from which we get the English word castle) The best known type of castrum is the Camp. This was a military town designed to house and protect the soldiers along with their equipment and supplies when they were not fighting or marching. More permanent camps were castra stativa, "standing camps". Less permanent castra were castra aestiva or aestivalia, "summer camps", in which the soldiers were housed in tents. Summer was the military campaign season. For the winter the soldiers retired to castra hiberna containing barracks of more solid materials, public buildings and stone walls. The Camp allowed the Romans to keep a rested and supplied army in the field. Neither the Celtic nor Germanic armies had this capability.

They found it necessary to disperse after a few days. Even when assembled, their open camps invited attack. When legions were far from a permanent camp they needed to construct a temporary castrum. Regulations required a major unit in the field to retire to a properly constructed fort every day. To this end a marching column carried in a baggage train of wagons and on the backs of the soldiers, the equipment needed to build and stock the camp. Camps were the responsibility of engineering units with specialists of many types, officered by architects, "chief engineers", who requisitioned manual labour from the soldiers at large as required. An architect could throw up a camp in a few hours while under enemy attack. Judging from the names, they seem to have used a selection of standardised camp plans, selecting the one depending on the length of time a legion would spend in it: tertia castra, quarta castra, etc., "a camp of three days", "four days", etc. The standard was a linear plan for a camp or fort: a square for camps to contain one legion or smaller unit, a rectangle for two legions, each legion being placed back-to-back with headquarters next to each other.

Laying it out was a geometric exercise conducted by officers called metatores. The process started in the centre of the planned camp at the site of the headquarters tent or building (principia). Streets and other features were marked with coloured pennants or rods. The base fortification (munimentum) was placed within a wall (vallum). The vallum was quadrangular aligned on the cardinal points of the compass. Construction crews dug a trench (fossa), throwing the excavated material inward, to be formed into the rampart (agger). On top of this a palisade of stakes (sudes or valli) was erected. Soldiers carried these stakes on the march. Over the course of time, the palisade might be replaced by a fine brick or stone wall, and the ditch serve also as a moat. A legion-sized camp always placed towers at intervals along the wall with positions between for the division artillery. This basic pattern was to endure long after the fall of the Roman Empire, being copied for centuries in generation after generation of castle.

Around the inside periphery of the vallum was a clear space, the intervallum, which served as an access route to the vallum and as a storage space for cattle (capita) and booty (praeda). Legionaries were quartered in a peripheral zone inside the intervallum, which they could rapidly cross to take up position on the vallum. Inside of the legionary quarters was a peripheral service road (Via sagularis). Every camp included a very wide main street, which ran through the camp on a north-south axis. The names of streets in many cities formerly occupied by the Romans suggest that the street was called cardo or Cardus Maximus. Typically the main street was the via principalis. The central portion was used as a parade ground and headquarters area. The "headquarters" building was called the praetorium because it housed the base commander, praetor ("first officer"), and his staff. On one side of the praetorium was the quaestorium, the building of the supply officer, or quaestor ("seeker"). On the other side was the forum, a small duplicate of an urban forum, where public business could be conducted.

Along the Via Principalis were the homes or tents of tribunes in front of the barracks of the units they commanded. At one end the Via Principalis passed through the vallum in the "right principal gate” (Porta principalis dextra ) and at the other in the "left principal gate (Porta principalis sinistra), which were gates fortified with towers (turres). (Which was on the north and which on the south depends on whether the praetorium faced east or west, which is one of the many details of Roman camps that remains unknown.) The central region of the Via Principalis with the buildings for the command staff was a square called the Principia. Across this at right angles to the Via Principalis was the Via Praetoria, so called because the praetorium interrupted it. The Via Principalis and the Via Praetoria divided the camp into four quarters. Across the central plaza (principia) to the east or west was the main gate, the Porta praetoria. Marching through it and down "headquarters street" a unit ended up in formation in front of the headquarters where the standards of the legion were displayed.

On the other side of the praetorium the Via Praetoria continued to the wall,which it passed through the back gate (Porta Decumana). Supplies came in through it and so it was also called the Porta quaestoria. The street plan of various present-day cities still retains traces of a Roman camp, for example Marsala in Sicily. Due to local archaeology, the locations and layouts of Roman castra are rapidly becoming known. Both amateurs and professionals are involved in excavation and publication. Internet sites giving photographs and the texts of inscriptions are numerous. Arbeia Roman Fort (reconstructed entrance gate) Kingdoms of British Celts - Durotriges Durotriges (Britons) Beyond the growing influence of the Catuvellauni during the first century BC were the Celtic Durotriges of Dorset. The tribe's territory extended into southern Wiltshire and southern Somerset, both to the north, where it met the borders of the Dobunni territory, and also edged into eastern Devon.

To the east of the Durotriges were the Belgae , to the west were the Dumnonii along a line probably represented by the River Exe (Isca Fluvius), while across the English Channel were the Osismii , Venelli , and Lexovii in Armorica . (See the map of most of Europe's tribes around the first centuries BC and AD to view the tribe's location in relation to all other Celts.) The Durotriges had no recognisable tribal centre, unless the mint at Hengistbury Head (on the border with the Atrebates /Belgae, near modern Christchurch) qualifies. This may also be the settlement called Dunium by the Roman geographer Ptolemy. Despite the lack of a recognisable centre, the Durotriges displayed an unusually dense volume of powerful hill forts, which was relatively unusual by the first century AD. These were to be the scene of a stubborn resistance to the Romans in AD 43. Maiden Castle is a finely preserved example of one of these hill forts. Following conquest, Durnovaria (Dorchester) and Lindinis (Ilchester) emerged as civitates.

The general impression of the tribe is of a number of fiercely independent groups or baronies rather than a closely unified state. It could be this lack of unity, which was relatively unusual amongst the British tribes, that was mainly to blame for the failure of the Durotriges to rebuild an independent state of their own in the fifth century. They were probably second wave Celts in origin, and may have been pushed further westwards by the arrival of third wave, Belgic groups of Celts from the second century BC onwards. The tribe's name can probably be broken down into two parts. 'Duro' may come from 'dubro', which derives from the British word for water ('dour' or 'dwr'), although it is much more likely to be 'duro', which means 'hard', and 'trig' means inhabitant. That would produce something along the lines of 'the inhabitants of the hard [ground]' or the 'hill-top dwellers'. Both meanings would seem to be very appropriate for the chalky soil of the Dorset Downs and the region's many hill forts, but that raises the question of what the tribe called itself before it arrived there.

Was the tribe even formed of one people, or had it coalesced out of multiple groups that had been forced into Dorset by the Belgic arrival in the south-east? That would certainly explain their lack of internal unity as a tribe. They were probably still in the process of discovering which group was going to be dominant, and therefore lead the tribe. Going further, this suggests that they had not been there for long, perhaps a century or two, which helps to support the Belgic-induced migration idea. Richard Reeves contests that the tribe's name actually relates to the River Test in the Southampton region. This link suggests that they once occupied lands either side of the Test and that they later migrated westwards, probably due to incoming Gaulish tribes such as the Atrebates who became their eastern neighbours. This would explain the abandonment of the hill forts in eastern Hampshire a century or so before the Roman conquest.

(Additional information by Edward Dawson and Richard Reeves, from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway, from Martock Local History Club, and from Roman Britain: A New History, Guy de la Bï¿½doyï¿½re.) c.400 BC The inhabitants of southern Somerset, whether they be Durotriges or an earlier people (almost certainly to be identified with the Dumnonii , if that is the case), first construct the hill fort of Cadbury Castle . They erect large earthen ramparts, fronted by deep ditches, and these are rebuilt and strengthened a number of times over subsequent centuries. Archaeology shows that dwellings are erected within the banks, both round houses and rectangular constructions, along with a series of what may be small shrines. 295 BC Archaeologists in 1964 unearth the remains of a longboat in Poole Harbour, within the later territory of the Durotriges. The boat is ten metres long (thirty-three feet) and would have carried a maximum of eighteen people, probably on trading trips to Armorica , which lies on the opposite shore of the Channel.

Given that the later influx of Belgic peoples probably pushes many earlier, second wave Celts westwards, Poole Harbour may not at this time be under the Durotriges. Instead, it is plausible to assume the Dumnonii may control the region, and if not now, then possibly recently. The Durotriges Big Dig 2011 uncovered native British remains, as well as plenty of pottery 1st century BC During this century the Durotriges trade with fellow Celtic tribes across the Channel, probably with the Osismii and Lexovii who lay on the opposite shore. The potter's wheel is introduced amongst them at the same time, while Hengistbury Head serves as the main trading centre. Towards the end of the century, this trade begins to fade, drying up completely in the early decades of the first century AD. This is most likely due to the Roman conquest of Gaul. The people at this time are generally settled farmers, tending land around powerful hill forts to which they can retreat in times of trouble. It is quite possible that these hill forts represent the powerbase of local chieftains, each of which vies for power and influence with neighbouring hill fort owners.

1st century AD The Durotriges, on the periphery of the Belgic culture of south-east Britain , issue their own, fairly basic coins from their mint at Hengistbury Head (possibly Ptolemy's town of Dunium). These coins carry no inscriptions, so it is impossible to ascribe them to specific mints or regional chieftains. During this first decades of this century, the coins are progressively debased, suggesting a culture that is suffering from a period of economic depression, brought on no doubt by the decline in trade. The tribe's economic retrenchment coincides with increased cultural isolation, judging by the lack of rich archaeological finds that occur further east. Finds at Poole Harbour suggest (according to Barry Cunliffe) that the production of ceramics becomes increasingly centralised here at the same time. AD 40s By this time, it appears that the territory of the Durotriges extends as far as the River Test in the Southampton region (and perhaps farther). This includes territory that is either taken around this period by the newly-established Atrebates , or which is assigned to the Belgae once the Romans have subdued the region.

43/44 Having conquered the Atrebates and Belgae , the Roman second wing under Vespasian builds a military supply base at Noviomagus, the tribal capital of the Regninses , from which to provision the legions as they push further west. Then Vespasian heads in that direction with II Augusta, almost certainly into the territory of the Durotriges (although they are not named at this time), while Governor Aulus Plautius is conquering the Catuvellauni . Although the details available are very brief and contain no chronology, Vespasian invades Dorset, and manages to secure Poole. He uses this as a supply base, constructing a settlement at Hamworthy (now the western section of Poole). From here he probably sets out northwards to attack Hod Hill and Spettisbury Rings (both close to Blandford Forum), before heading west to take Maiden Castle (immediately south-west of Dorchester) and north to take South Cadbury . The Durotriges fight hard to retain their independence, and there are signs of violent attack at many hill forts, including those named above.

The Durotriges at Maiden Castle take the time to bury eight of their dead following the Roman attack. The presence of forts occupied from this period at Hod Hill, Waddon Hill, and probably Ham Hill, suggests that the area remains restive for some years to come, despite the constant Roman military presence. However, to a large extent it appears that the Durotriges' ruling class is largely wiped out or otherwise removed from the area. This is reflected in the region's failure to reform as a post-Roman kingdom. c.60 A timber walled fort is established at Lindinis (modern Ilchester), a location that is situated on the Fosse Way where it crosses the River Yeo, and which lies almost due north of a similar legionary fort at Durnovaria (modern Dorchester). The fort at Lindinis is close to Ham Hill and Cadbury Castle hill forts. It soon finds itself surrounded by a settlement of British round houses which are themselves replaced by a vicus (an unplanned civil area) before the end of the century.

61 During the Iceni -led revolt in the east, the Silures , Ordovices , Dobunni , and perhaps the Durotriges are probably pinned down by the Roman Second Legion and are unable to join Boudicca. The presence of the legion, under Poenius Postumus, is perhaps due more to fortune than planning. When Governor Suetonius marches back from Wales to reassemble the scattered Roman forces at a location in the Midlands, Postumus refuses to move. Possibly he is influenced by memories of the death of the praefectus castrorum at the hands of the Silures during the governorship of Ostorius. When he hears of Suetonius' victory against Boudicca, Postumus kills himself and his legion joins the governor in the field. Cadbury Castle was the scene of some hard fighting in the seventh decade of the first century AD, probably as part of the Boudiccan rebellion However, there is some resistance by the Durotriges. Cadbury Castle is stormed and captured by the Romans .

Its late occupation approximately two decades after the Durotriges have been conquered is a bit of a puzzle, but not if it figures as part of a last gesture of defiance at the time of the Boudiccan rebellion. The possibility exists that a chief of the Durotriges, chaffing at the loss of his domains to these invaders, jumps at the chance to oppose them again in the true spirit of a British warrior. After the final battle, the inhabitants are resettled at the base of the hill fort. mid-70s The Romans establish what is probably a civitas at Durnovaria, although there is no written evidence to confirm that this town is in fact the tribal civitas. It is located close to the hill fort of Maiden Castle and replaces the now-abandoned legionary fort. An organised street plan is laid out and timber structures are built along those streets. A water supply is established, and the regionally important pottery, and the stone and shale industries are concentrated on the marketplace. The initial size of the town is small, but it extends northwards in the following century. c.90 - 100 Towards the end of the century, Rome establishes a second civitas in the territory at Lindinis.

Replacing the Roman fort, it probably serves the northern Durotriges, although it might instead be the administrative centre for a pagus. Other settlements are also established at Vindoclavia (modern Badbury), to house the former residents of the nearby hill fort of Badbury Rings, and Wareham (Roman name unknown), a town of unknown extent which perhaps serves as administrative headquarters for the nearby stone and shale quarries. mid-100s Defences are added to the town of Durnovaria, and the Neolithic henge of Maunbury Rings is converted into an amphitheatre. The henge had been constructed around 2500 BC, although apparently without standing stones, consisting of a large, circular earthwork with a single bank and internal ditch (the site remains in use today, as a public space for open-air musical events and re-enactments). By now, a cemetery appears to have been established to the west of the town (in modern Poundbury). 3rd century A certain amount of the numerous timber buildings of Durnovaria are replaced by stone ones, a process that has occurred much earlier in many of the towns to the east. This is despite a prosperous stone trade existing in the immediate area.

Large and expensively decorated villas are also established in the surrounding countryside, some with accomplished mosaic floors. The complex Durngate Street Roman mosaic pavement was unearthed in Dorchester in 1995 and is on display at Dorset County Museum 4th century By this century, the town of Lindinis appears to have become dominated by luxury private homes decorated with complex and expensive mosaic floors. Stone walls are erected around the town to protect it during the weakening political and military situation in Britain in the second half of the century. The town remains occupied by Romano-British inhabitants into the fifth century, as evidenced by pottery finds, and later finds suggest unbroken habitation after that, even during its conquest by the invading West Seaxe . c.350s Around this time, stones recording building or repair work appear along Hadrian's Wall. The stones are undated, but are placed in the mid-fourth century and two of them record work by the civitas Dumnoniorum and the civitas Durotrigum. They seem to represent either an enforced labour party under military supervision, or the provision of civilian labour to maintain the country's defences. c.400?

The far west has seemingly never been tightly administered by the Roman central administration in Britain . The Dumnonii in Cornwall have apparently exercise a level of self-control for some time, and it seems that during this century they extend their own semi-independent state to encompass the former territory of the Durotriges, creating a greater Dumnonian kingdom that emerges into full independence by the start of the fifth century. The apparent lack of centralised tribal control in Dorset prior to the Roman invasion may be to blame for this, with no Durotrigan state able to re-emerge now that central control is slackening and no surviving Durotrigan nobility left to assume control. By this time the Durotriges name has undergone some degree of change. Extrapolating from the modern county name, 'Dorset', and the fact that Saxon settlers in the area call themselves the Dornsaete , the name Dorotric, or Dortrig, is not impossible for the fifth century. Eventually, by the mid-to-late seventh century, Dorset is conquered by the West Seaxe , pushing the Dumnonians westwards into Devon and Cornwall.

The Saxons interpret the name of Durnovaria as Dornwaraceaster (roughly 'the fort of the Durno-people'), and by 937 it is Dornacaester (modern Dorchester). Open Settlement in Southern Britain Predates Roman Arrival - Archaeology Magazine Open Settlement in Southern Britain Predates Roman Arrival Share Monday, July 13, 2015 DORSET, ENGLAND—A geophysical survey conducted by a team from the University of Bournemouth has located 150 roundhouses and other features in a prehistoric town named Duropolis, after the Durotriges, a local Iron Age tribe. Sixteen roundhouses in the settlement have been excavated so far. “What we’ve discovered is extremely significant for the whole of Southern Britain because in the past archaeologists have tended to look at really obvious sites, like the big hill-fort of Maiden Castle, near Dorchester. What we have here is an extensive open settlement, not a hillfort, so it wasn’t visible as a settlement from the earthwork on the landscape. What we’ve discovered is one of the earliest and largest open settlements in Britain,” archaeologist Miles Russell said in a press release .

It had been thought that before the arrival of the Romans, most people in Britain lived in protected hillforts. The team also uncovered the bones of animals whose body parts had been rearranged to form hybrid beasts, grinding stones, spindle whorls, and metal working debris. To read about recent work at England's largest hillfort, go to " Ham Hill's Violent History ." Advertisement BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: Iron Age Sites in Britain Iron Age Sites in Britain By TSN Moorhead and JD Hill Last updated 2011-02-28 Explore the Iron Age sites of England, Wales and Scotland. On this page Print this page England There are Iron Age sites, reconstructions and museums across England, Wales and Scotland. Many of the sites listed below are under the guardianship of English Heritage, Historic Scotland, CADW (Wales) and the National Trust. Others are accessible by public footpaths, but several are on private land. Care should be taken when visiting sites, especially those near cliffs and in wilder regions. Ordnance Survey references have been provided for many of the sites.

The BBC series 'Surviving the Iron Age' was filmed at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort, in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Buckinghamshire, Ivinghoe Beacon hill-fort, Ivinghoe (SP 960168). National Trust. Cambridgeshire, Wandlebury hill-fort, Stapleford (TL 493534). Situated on the hill above the Gog Magog golf course, with easy access. Stonea Campm, SE of March (TL 949 937). Access by car to the site has been made possible. Cornwall, Carn Euny ancient village, Sancreed, near Land's End (SW 403288). English Heritage. There is fine preservation of stone house foundations, and an underground passage, or fogou. The finds are at the Royal Cornwall Museum (see below). Chysauster ancient village, Madron, near Land's End (SW 472350). Like Carn Euny, but with even better preservation of houses. The finds are at the Royal Cornwall Museum (see below).

Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro, TR1 2SJ. Some fine Iron Age exhibits, including references to the tin industry that flourished in Cornwall. Derbyshire, Mam Tor hill-fort, between Castleton and Edale (SK 128837). The largest hillfort in Derbyshire, with marvellous views. Dorset, Maiden Castle hill-fort, Winterborne Monkton, near Dorchester (SY 669884). English Heritage. Probably the most famous hill-fort in Britain. Maiden Castle was the site of conflict between the Roman invaders and Britons. It also has Neolithic remains. Finds from the site, including the Briton with a Roman catapult point in his spine, are on display in Dorset County Museum (see below). Dorset County Museum, High Street West, Dorchester, DT1 1EW. 01305 262735. The museum displays much of the material excavated at Maiden Castle. Essex, Castle Museum, Colchester, CO1 1TJ. Fine collection of material from Iron Age graves around Colchester.

Gloucestershire, Crickley Hill hill-fort, Coberley (SO 928161). National Trust. This is another Iron Age hill-fort ,which was preceded by a Neolithic causewayed enclosure. The site has been the focus of important excavations in recent years. Greater London, British Museum, London, WC1B 3DG. Gallery 50: Celtic Europe. Hampshire, Danebury Ring hill-fort, Nether Wallop, near Andover (SU 323377). This hill-fort was the site of the most extensive excavations ever carried out at an Iron Age hill-fort in Britain. Many of the finds are at the Museum of the Iron Age in Andover (see next entry). Parking and access provided by Hampshire County Council. Museum of the Iron Age, Andover Museum, 6 Church Close, Andover SP10 1DP Tel: 01264 366283. This museum is largely devoted to the finds from, and interpretation of, the excavations at Danebury (see entry above).

Butser ancient farm, Nexus House, Gravel Hill, Horndean, Hampshire P08 0QE Tel: 01705 598838. The most important experimental Iron Age farm in Britain. It is open to the public and to school parties. Hereford and Monmouth, Herefordshire Beacon hill-fort, Colwall, on the Malverns (SO 760399). This impressive hill-fort follows the contours of the Malvern Hills. A medieval motte and bailey castle was built at the centre of the site in the 11th or 12th century. Easy access by road and footpaths. Hertfordshire, Wheathampstead Devil's Dyke, St Albans (TL 186133). National Trust. A massive, but enigmatic, earthwork. Verulamium Museum, St Michael's, St.Albans, AL3 4SW. Kent, Bigbury Wood hill-fort, Harbledown, near Canterbury (TR 116576).

This hill-fort might have been the site of Caesar's first battle against the Britons during his second expedition to Britain in 54BC. Access by public footpath. Norfolk, Thetford Castle, Thetford (TL 875828). The ramparts and ditches surrounding the medieval motte are accepted to be Iron Age. Warham Camp, Warham All Saints (TF 944409). An impressive little fort on a slope above the River Stiffkey; access by public footpath. Northumberland, Old Bewick hill-fort, New Bewick (NU 075216). This hill-fort, accessible by public footpath, is on a spur. Tremendous views. Oxfordshire, Uffington Castle hill-fort, Kingston Lisle (SU 299864). English Heritage. This hill-fort is near to several famous ancient monuments - including the Ridgeway, Wayland Smithy long-barrow and the Uffington White Horse. Shropshire, The Wrekin hill-fort, Wellington (SJ 630083). Access by footpath.

Somerset, South Cadbury hill-fort, South Cadbury (ST 6728252). National Trust. This famous site has Neolithic origins. The later Iron Age fort was re-fortified at the end of the Roman period when it has been often associated with King Arthur. Peat Moors Centre, Westhay, near Glastonbury. The centre has reconstructions of Iron Age roundhouses and other ancient structures. Sussex, Cissbury hill-fort, Findon, near Worthing (TQ 139080). This magnificent hill-fort was also the site of earlier flint-mining in the Neolithic period. Parking and access by public footpath. Wiltshire, Figsbury Rings hill-fort, Winterborne (SU 188338). National Trust. An unusual hill-fort because it has an internal ditch, which is not fully understood. There is a wonderful view of Salisbury and the Salisbury Plain. Wiltshire Heritage Museum, 41 Long Street, Devizes, SN10 1NS.

As well as housing one of the most important Neolithic and Bronze Age collections in the British Isles, this museum also has a fine collection of Iron Age material, including the Marlborough Bucket. Worcestershire, Bredon Hill hill-fort, Bredon's Norton (SO 958402). Can be approached by footpaths from Great Comberton or Kemberton. East Yorkshire, Hull and East Riding Museum, 36 High Street, Hull. Many fine finds from Iron Age burials in the region. North Yorkshire, Stanwick Iron-Age Fortifications, between Forcett, Carkin, Fields, Park House and Carlton Park (NZ 180115). An area of 750 acres is enclosed by a series of ramparts and ditches. Top Wales Castell Henllys © Anglesey, Caer y Twr hill-fort, Holyhead Mountain (SH 218830): CADW. The Roman author Tacitus tells us that Anglesey was a stronghold of the Druids. Dyfed, Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Dolaucothi (SN 6640).

Although the visible remains are Roman, evidence has been found here for Iron Age mining. National Trust. Castell Henllys hill-fort, Meline, Crymych, Pembroke. The location used for the BBC series 'Surviving the Iron Age'. Roundhouses have been reconstructed on the site of an Iron Age hill-fort. Glamorgan, National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff. A fine collection of Iron Age artefacts from Wales. Gwent, Llanmelin Wood hill-fort, NE of Newport (ST 460925): CADW. Gwynedd, Tre'r Ceiri hill-fort, Llanaelhaearn (SH 373446). On the eastern peak of Yr Eifli; access by public footpath. One of the most impressive hill-forts in Britain. Broch of Gurness © All sites are in the care of Historic Scotland, unless otherwise stated. Arran, Torr a' Chaisteil dun, (NR 9219 2326).

Dumfries and Galloway, Rispain Camp, behind Rispain Farm, one mile west of Whithorn (NX 4293 3993). A rectangular settlement defended by a bank and ditch, dating from the first or second century AD. Highland, Dun Telve and Dun Troddan, Glenelg (NG 829173; 834073). Dundornadilla, 14km NW of Altnaharra (Sutherland) (NH 455449). Lothian, Holyrood Park - four forts and several settlements, Edinburgh (NT 2773). Castle Law hill-fort and souterrain, SW of Fairmilehead (NT 229638). Traprain Law hill-fort, SE of East Linton (NT 581746). A famous site, which was occupied into the Roman period. The late-Roman silver hoard found here is in the National Museum of Scotland. Local Authority. Note the steep climb. North Berwick Law hill-fort.

On border of Berwick and East Lothian (NT 555842) National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. A fine collection of Iron Age material. Orkney, The Broch of Gurness, 22km NE of Stromness (HY 383267). Midhowe Broch, Rousay Island (HY 371307). Grain Souterrain, (HY 4413 1161). Outer Hebrides, Dun Carloway, Lewis (NB 189412). Scottish Borders, Edinshall Broch and small fort, Edinshall, Berwick (NT 772603). On private land, access by footpath. Shetland Jarlshof Broch and settlement, (HU 397096). Mousa Broch, (HU 457236). Probably the most famous broch of all. Strathclyde, Dunadd hill-fort, Lochgilphead (NR 837936). The finest hill-fort in the region.

Tayside, Ardestie souterrain (NO 5030 3444). A souterrain is a stone-built underground passage. Such monuments are also found in Cornwall (fogou). Their function is not known for certain. Tealing souterrain, (NO 4121 3816). The Caterhuns hill-forts, NW of Brechin (NO 548660; NO 555668). The White Caterhun and Brown Caterhun are two of the most famous hill-forts in Scotland. A Guide to Early Celtic Remains in Britain by P Berresford Ellis (Constable, 1991) Historic Scotland, the Sites to See by Historic Scotland Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales (4 volumes on different regions) by CADW Ordnance Survey Historical Map and Guide (Ancient Britain, 1990) Many sites, museums and other archaeological contacts can be found in: Teaching Archaeology: A United Kingdom Directory of Resources.

edited by D Henson (Council for British Archaeology, 1996) Discovering Archaeology in England and Wales by J Dyer (Shire, 1997) About the author JD Hill is curator of Iron Age collections at the British Museum. TSN Moorhead is education officer for Archaeology at the British Museum. Top About the author JD Hill is curator of Iron Age collections at the British Museum. TSN Moorhead is education officer for Archaeology at the British Museum. BBC - Primary History - Romans - Invasion Primary History How did the British fight back? What was Britain like before the Romans? Before the Romans invaded, Celts lived in Britain. There were lots of different tribes ruled by kings or chiefs. Chiefs often fought one another. A chief would lead his warriors into battle in chariots pulled by horses. For defence against enemies, they built forts on hilltops. These hill-forts had earth banks and wooden walls. In Celtic Britain there were no towns. Most people were farmers living in villages. They made round houses from wood and mud, with Thatched roofs . There were no roads. People travelled by boats on rivers, or along muddy paths.

Some British Celts crossed the sea to trade with other Celts in the Roman Empire . Back to top Why did the Romans invade? The Romans ruled Gaul (Gallia they called it). Today it's France. In 55 B.C. the Roman General Julius Caesar led his army across the sea from Gaul to Britain. He wanted to make Britain part of Rome's empire . The British Celts fought bravely, and Caesar soon went back to Gaul. Next year, in 54 B.C. the Romans came back. This time Caesar had 30,000 soldiers. They were surprised to see chariots . The Romans had stopped using chariots in battles. Caesar captured a Celtic hill- fort . Then, again, he went away. He did not think Britain was worth a long war, and he wanted to get back to Rome. Nearly a hundred years later, in A.D. 43, the Romans returned. Emperor Claudius sent an army to invade Britain. The army had four legions . This time the Romans conquered the southern half of Britain, and made it part of the Roman Empire. Back to top How did the British fight back?

Some Celts made friends with the Romans, in return for keeping their kingdoms. Their leaders were called 'client kings'. They agreed to obey Roman laws, and pay Roman taxes . One client king was Cogidumnus, the ruler of the Atrebates of southern Britain. The Roman palace at Fishbourne (West Sussex) was probably built for him. He was a 'Roman Briton'. Other British leaders fought the Romans. At Maiden Castle (a hill- fort near Dorchester in Dorset) archaeologists found evidence of a battle which the Romans had won. Buried on the site were the skeletons of young men, some of which had cut marks of Roman swords on the bones. The best British leader was Caratacus, but he was beaten in A.D. 51. The Romans took him as a prisoner to Rome, but treated him well. Find out why Caesar came to Britain Fun Facts After winning a battle the Celts would chop off the heads of their enemies, and take them home. The palace at Fishbourne had about 100 rooms. Most rooms had floors made of mosaics, with pictures and patterns made of hundreds of tiny stones. When the Romans arrived, they found some Britons kept sacred geese.

Nobody was allowed to eat the birds. The Romans had their own favourite story about geese saving the city of Rome. The geese cackled when enemies tried to climb the city walls, and warned the Roman guards. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. A to D Acropolis [a-CROP-olis] The Acropolis is a large hill in the centre of Athens. On top of it were many temples and other buildings, the remains of which can be seen today. amphitheatre A place like a stadium, where Romans went to watch animals and people fighting. aqueduct A system of pipes and channels used to bring water into towns. archaeological site A place such as a ruined fort studied by archaeologists. archaeologists People who study the past by looking at old things, often found underground.

archaeology Studying the past by looking at old things, often found underground. Aristophanes [aris-TOF-a-neez] Lived in Athens in the 5th century BC. He wrote comedies for the theatre in Athens. Aspasia [as-PAY-zia] Was a woman to taught public speaking in Athens. She was the partner of the famous general Perikles. Aspasia had much more independence than most women in Athens. barbarian A person who lived outside the Roman Empire, seen by Romans as violent and uncivilized. basilica A large building where town business was carried out (like a modern Town Hall). assembly The Assembly was the public meeting of the giovernment of the city. All citizens could take part and vote there. Athena The patron goddess of Athens. A huge statue of Athena stood outside the Parthenon. Attica [A-tik-a] A wind instrument with a reed similar to a modern oboe. capital city Main city of a country, the centre of government. catapult A machine that threw rocks or burning tar at the enemies. In Latin it was called an onager. cavalry Soldiers who fight on horseback.

chariot Cart with two wheels pulled by horses. Romans raced chariots, and Celtic warriors rode into battle on them. celts People who lived in Europe, including Britain, and who fought the Romans. centurion An officer commanding about 80 legionaries. citizen Person with special rights such as the right to vote and own property in the Roman Empire. Only men could be full Roman citizens. cohort There were ten cohorts in a legion. crossbow Weapon like a bow and arrow, only the string is pulled back by turning a handle and the bow is fired by releasing a trigger. In Latin it was called a ballista druids The priests of the old Celtic religion. E to G Process where people vote to choose the people they want to be in charge. empire A large area with many people ruled by one strong leader, called an emperor. forum An open space in the middle of a town for markets and meeting people (like a market square). It was the centre of Roman town life. fort A building with walls to keep out enemies, used by soldiers. foundations Firm base for a road or building. general leader of an army, the soldier giving the orders to everyone else.

gladiator A person trained to fight other gladiators or animals in amphitheatres. governor The ruler of Roman Britain, who worked for the Roman Emperor. H to L hypocaust Roman central heating. Hot air from a furnace (fire) flowed through gaps between walls and flooring latin The language spoken and written by the Romans legate The officer commanding a whole legion. legion The main battle unit of the Roman army, its soldiers were called legionaries. There were between 4,000 and 6,000 legionaries in a legion. legend A story made up about people in the past M to O A pattern made from coloured pieces of stones and pottery. myth A made-up story, often about gods and spirits, told to explain things such as why the sun rises and sets every day. P to Z Money paid to a retired worker or soldier. picts people who lived in Scotland republic A country without a king, queen or emperor. The Roman republic was ruled by the elected Senate. Most countries today are republics. sacred Something that is believed to be holy and to have a special connection with a god or gods. scroll Roman book, written on a long strip of paper rolled around a stick.

senate The Roman government, made up of senators. senator A person elected to the Roman Senate who helped run the government. Some countries today, like the U.S.A., have senators. sewage Dirty water and toilet waste which flows into sewers from drains and toilets. sewers Pipes or tunnels that carry away sewage. slave Someone who can be sold to another person to work for nothing. A slave is not free and has no rights. slingshot Weapon for throwing stones, made from a long strip of leather and whirled around by the thrower. standard Roman army emblem, a pole with special decorations (such as a metal eagle) carried by a soldier. Each legion had its own standards. stirrups the metal holder for a rider's foot. Attached to a horse's saddle by a leather strap. strigil A metal object used in Roman baths to scrape sweat, dirt and excess oil off. stylus A metal pen for scratching words into soft wax on wooden tablets. taxes Money or items taken by the government from people, to pay for things like the army, wars, emperor's palaces and building roads. Thatched roofs Roofs of buildings made from bundles of straw or reeds.

treadmill Machine like a big wheel inside which slaves walked round, to turn the machine. tribe A group of people who live in one part of a country and are ruled by a chief. tutor A teacher who gives lessons to a student at home. underworld A gloomy place where Romans believed your soul went after you died. villa A large house in the country. Some Roman villas were farmhouses and some were like palaces. warrior A trained soldier, someone used to fighting in wars. wreath

Question: What is the name of the huge pre-Roman hill fort near Dorchester?
Answer: Maiden Castle