Danebury
Danebury is an Iron Age hillfort in Hampshire, England, about 19 kilometres (12 mi) north-west of Winchester (grid reference SU323376). The site, covering 5 hectares (12 acres), was excavated by Barry Cunliffe in the 1970s. Danebury is considered a type-site for hill forts, and was important in developing the understanding of hillforts, as very few others have been so intensively excavated.
Aerial image of Danebury | |
Shown within Hampshire | |
| Location | Hampshire, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51.136681°N 1.537569°W |
| Type | Hillfort |
| Area | 5 hectares (12 acres) |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 550 BC |
| Abandoned | c. 100 BC |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1969 – 1988 |
| Public access | Yes |
Scheduled monument | |
| Official name | Danebury Hill camp |
| Reference no. | 1001949 |
| Danebury Hillfort | |
|---|---|
Entrance to the hill fort | |
| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | Nether Wallop, Hampshire |
| OS grid | SU 326 376 |
| Area | 39 hectares (96 acres) |
| Managed by | Hampshire Countryside Service |
Built in the 6th century BC, the fort was used for almost 500 years, during a period when the number of hill forts in Wessex greatly increased. Danebury was remodelled several times, making it more complex and resulting in it becoming a "developed" hill fort. It is a Scheduled Monument and a Local Nature Reserve called Danebury Hillfort. The Scheduled Monument is surrounded by a Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated as Danebury Hill.