Blewburton Hill

The hillfort appears to have been relatively intensely inhabited, compared to other hillforts in the region. the stone for which must have been imported from elsewhere. Around 50 BC the hillfort was finally abandoned, perhaps due to expansion of the Belgae. The excavators uncovered evidence for a violent end to the occupation of the fort, with collapsed ramparts, signs of burning, and dead animals left where they lay. Centuries later, the Anglo-Saxons used the interior of the fort as a cemetery. The cemetery was dated to the early Anglo-Saxon period, and 22 buried individuals were excavated, and one cremation. Most of the remains were accompanied by grave goods.

The hillfort encloses an area of approximately 4 ha. There was an 11 m wide entrance on the west side of the fort, which may have possessed an overhead walkway. The gateway was protected by a ditch behind it, although this was later filled in. Unusually, a number of horse burials were found within the entrance. During the second phase of the fort, excavated postholes demonstrate that it possessed a double gate. The rampart was originally 6.4 m wide, with a 4 m gap between the inner and outer retaining timber supports. The rampart was built from chalk packed firmly between the timber retainers. The second phase of the rampart was of the "Low Dump" type, with an asymmetrical cross-section and…