Maiden Castle, Dorset

Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hillfort 1.6 mi southwest of Dorchester, in the English county of Dorset [1]. The earliest archaeological evidence of human activity on the site consists of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure and bank barrow [1]. 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 ha [1]. Around 100 BC, habitation at the hill fort went into decline and became concentrated at the eastern end of the site [1]. It was occupied until at least the Roman period, by which time it was in the territory of the Durotriges, a Celtic tribe [1]. 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 [1]. In the late 4th century AD, a temple and ancillary buildings were constructed [1]. In about 450 BC, Maiden Castle was expanded from 6.4 to 19 ha [1].