The Eastern Entrance

The entrance began as two simple gaps in the defences. In a similar way to the western end, the eastern entrance was modified and enlarged over time.

Excavations here in the 1930s by the famous archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler revealed the complex development of the ramparts.

The rebuilding of the entrance resulted in the creation of narrow, complex passageways, overlooked by stone platforms, on which guards could have monitored, and if necessary, defended the entrance.

The rampart was soon extended to form a ‘hornwork’ with two entirely separate passageways.  When additional ramparts were built around the hillfort, these enveloped the hornwork. Over 20,000 slingstones, small rounded pebbles from Chesil Beach on the south coast, have been found at this eastern entrance. They were stored in large pits ready to be thrown or slung at attackers.

The area immediately outside the gates was the location of a blacksmith’s workshop, and within the entrance a large cemetery was established.

The main phases of development of the entrance earthworks from the early to the middle Iron Age. Drawings by Peter Dunn.

  Later, the entrance was redesigned with an outer bank and ditch built outside the hillfort, in front of the two gateways. This was fronted by a vertical wall of limestone and formed a very impressive entrance to the fort.