After decades of writing about the folklore of the British Isles and visiting many of the sites I have challenged myself to video as many of our little trips as possible. Most of the videos are quite short but interesting I hope!
A link for my You tube channel if you wish to join me on my adventures!
https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethandrews7523
Our latest adventure was this ancient hill fort in West Dorset. It was built on a ridge line overlooking the Marshwood Vale and is very close to the larger Lamberts Castle which was also an iron age hill fort. This was the site of a fair which continued for several hundred years and the location of a race course.
But back to Coney's Castle...the name coney comes from the old English word meaning rabbit which suggests its use as medieval warren, such as Pilsdon Pen, a nearby hill.
The hill fort has a double enclosure with ramparts and ditches on the eastern, northern and southern sides, the western approach is so steep that these were not so necessary.
Inhabited by the Durotriges tribe whose territory was thought to cover Dorset, Somerset, Wilts and Hampshire. The Dumnonii inhabited land to the west.
The Durotriges hill forts are among the largest in the country and were used as defence positions against the Roman invasion, who had to fight the iron age tribes hill fort by hill fort. They of course eventually succeeded in subduing the tribes.
There is evidence of the conflict, from arrows found inside the enclosures of other hill forts to the collection of round pebbles used as sling shots found by a farmer on Coney's hill.
As well as having their own coinage, they were know for their distinctive black burnished pottery especially the straining bowls, which were widely used by the Roman army and locals. The production of this pottery continued after the Roman conquest which would suggest that the tribes managed to retain to some degree their own Durotigian identity.
Their burial practices were by in-humation, the body usually placed in a crouched position along with a last meal placed in the grave along with grave goods.
These hill forts are fascinating and a great place for a walk with the dogs, and grandchildren. So like an estate agent you can take a virtual tour of the hill fort by clicking the link!!
I hope you enjoy exploring the hill fort as much as we did!
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