Sidbury Hill, Wiltshire
Encyclopedia
Sidbury Hill, or Sidbury Camp, is the site of an Iron Age
bivallate hillfort located in Wiltshire
. The site is sub-triangular in shape, and approximately 17 acres in area, and is constructed on the site of a neolithic
settlement. The hill offers excellent defensive slopes on all sides, which have been supplemented by the double ditch and rampart earthworks. The settlement and hillfort were partially excavated in the 19th century and the 1950s. There were finds of pottery and other artefacts. A straight, well defined ditch extends from the main entrance on the northwest side. This earthwork is one element in an extensive system of boundaries founded on and around Sidbury Hill. The southern section is straight and well preserved. A neolithic settlement site was discovered during the excavation in the 1950s, being of a section of the south-east rampart of the hill fort. A number of flint flakes and tools were recovered.
The site is a scheduled national monument no.10064. The site was wooded, but the trees planted in the 1960s are now being removed, (since Sept 2002) and the area is being allowed to revert to the natural chalk downland. Access to the site is difficult as it is on, or near, Ministry of Defence
land, and there are many tank tracks and occasional artillery firing in the area. There are also numerous ditches, barrows, trackways, field systems, and tumuli in the area.
, in the county of Wiltshire
. The hill has a summit of 223mAOD. There are public footpaths and bridleways in the area, however the surrounding land is managed by the MOD and access to the hill fort may be restricted at times.
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
bivallate hillfort located in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. The site is sub-triangular in shape, and approximately 17 acres in area, and is constructed on the site of a neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
settlement. The hill offers excellent defensive slopes on all sides, which have been supplemented by the double ditch and rampart earthworks. The settlement and hillfort were partially excavated in the 19th century and the 1950s. There were finds of pottery and other artefacts. A straight, well defined ditch extends from the main entrance on the northwest side. This earthwork is one element in an extensive system of boundaries founded on and around Sidbury Hill. The southern section is straight and well preserved. A neolithic settlement site was discovered during the excavation in the 1950s, being of a section of the south-east rampart of the hill fort. A number of flint flakes and tools were recovered.
The site is a scheduled national monument no.10064. The site was wooded, but the trees planted in the 1960s are now being removed, (since Sept 2002) and the area is being allowed to revert to the natural chalk downland. Access to the site is difficult as it is on, or near, Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
land, and there are many tank tracks and occasional artillery firing in the area. There are also numerous ditches, barrows, trackways, field systems, and tumuli in the area.
Location
The site is located at , to the northwest of the small town of TidworthTidworth
Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...
, in the county of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. The hill has a summit of 223mAOD. There are public footpaths and bridleways in the area, however the surrounding land is managed by the MOD and access to the hill fort may be restricted at times.