In the battle for Maiden Castle, the Durotriges, armed with only slings and stones, were massacred by the far superior forces of the Roman Army. The Roman invasion of Dorset included 30 battles, the conquest of two great tribes and the capture of 20 fortresses.
What was the Maiden Castle used for?
The 4th-century temple gradually fell into disuse and Maiden Castle was used predominantly as pasture. There is evidence for activity on the site in the form of a few post-Roman or Anglo Saxon burials, some possibly Christian, but the hill fort was not reused as a settlement.
What was discovered at Maiden Castle?
Neolithic Activity The impressive Iron Age hillfort of Maiden Castle was not the first monument on the hilltop. Excavations have discovered a complex sequence of occupation, beginning over 6,000 years ago.
Why is it called Maiden?
Maiden Castle | South West | Castles, Forts and Battles. Maiden Castle, the name deriving from the Celtic word ‘Mai Dun’ meaning ‘Great Hill’, was built around 3000 BC. The castle was taken, the earthworks slighted and the populace forcibly relocated to modern day Dorchester.
What evidence of the past did they discover at Maiden Castle?
At least 52 skeletons were recovered from the Maiden Castle cemetery, some with evidence of significant and severe trauma, the most famous of which was an adult male with an iron projectile embedded in his spine (Wheeler 1943, 352–3).
Who built the Maiden Castle?
Nevertheless, the Romans did make a mark on the site of Maiden Castle. In the 4th century they built a temple there, the foundation stone of which is still in place, which was possibly used by the cult of Minerva.
Are there toilets at Maiden Castle?
There are no toilets or other facilities. Not disabled or wheelchair friendly. Caution should be taken when wet as the area can become muddy & slippery.
When did the Iron Age end?
Many scholars place the end of the Iron Age in at around 550 BC, when Herodotus, “The Father of History,” began writing “The Histories,” though the end date varies by region. In Scandinavia, it ended closer to 800 AD with the rise of the Vikings.
Does maiden mean first?
First or earliest; inaugural. A maiden speech, maiden voyage. (now chiefly literary) A girl or an unmarried young woman.
Did the Celts beat the Romans at Maiden Castle?
Maiden Castle is a place where your imagination can run wild. In the same century that Jesus was born and having his own run-in with the Romans, the iron age Celts of Dorset were doing their bit to hold back the boundaries of the Roman Empire. Ultimately, in 43 A.D., they failed.
Can you take dogs to Maiden Castle?
Dogs: Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on a lead as sheep graze the site.
Who lived in Maiden Castle?
Durotriges tribe
This community was part of the Durotriges tribe who lived in modern Dorset and parts of Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon. Before this, Maiden Castle had a long sequence of prehistoric activity. This was revealed by archaeological excavations in the 1930s and the 1980s.
What is the exact location of Maiden Castle?
Coordinates: 50°41′40″N 2°28′05″W / 50.694495°N 2.468192°W / 50.694495; -2.468192. Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hill fort 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south west of Dorchester, in the English county of Dorset. Hill forts were fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age.
What is the history of the ancientmaiden Castle?
Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hill fort 1.6 miles (2.6 km) 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 earliest archaeological evidence of human activity on the site consists of a Neolithic causewayed…
Is Maiden Castle an EH member?
Not yet an EH member? Maiden Castle in Dorset is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe – the size of 50 football pitches. Its huge multiple ramparts, mostly built in the 1st century BC, once protected hundreds of residents.
What happened to the Roman temple at Maiden Castle?
A Roman temple was built at Maiden Castle in the 4th century, the foundations of which can still be seen today. The fort was abandoned shortly after this time, although it may have been occupied during early Saxon times. It has certainly been deserted for the last 1400 years or so.
