description Maiden Castle Overview
Maiden Castle is a large Iron Age hill fort located approximately three kilometers southwest of Dorchester in Dorset, England, with earliest earthworks dating to around 600 BC. The site underwent multiple phases of expansion, eventually enclosing roughly 18 hectares with complex multivallate ramparts. Archaeological excavations led by Mortimer Wheeler in the 1930s revealed a Roman temple built within the fort's interior during the Romano-British period.
help Maiden Castle FAQ
Where is Maiden Castle?
Maiden Castle is about three kilometers southwest of Dorchester in Dorset, England. It is one of Britain's largest Iron Age hill forts.
When was Maiden Castle first developed?
The earliest earthworks date to around 600 BCE. The fort was expanded through several later phases, eventually enclosing roughly 18 hectares.
What defenses does Maiden Castle have?
The hill fort has multiple banks and ditches arranged across a large chalk ridge. Its layered defenses made access difficult and created a strongly controlled entrance.
Was Maiden Castle occupied during the Roman invasion?
The site was occupied during the Roman conquest of southern Britain in the first century CE. Archaeological evidence includes signs of conflict and later Roman use of the hill fort.
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