Ebsbury facts for kids
The northern flank of Ebsbury Hill with strip lynchets visible
|
|
 Location in Wiltshire
|
|
| Alternative name | Grovely Earthworks |
|---|---|
| Location | Wiltshire |
| Region | Southern England |
| Coordinates | 51°07′03″N 1°54′43″W / 51.117586°N 1.911964°W |
| Type | possible hill fort |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1906 |
| Archaeologists | SW Doughty |
Ebsbury is an ancient site in Wiltshire, England. It holds the remains of an Iron Age settlement. The Iron Age was a time when people used iron tools and weapons.
At Ebsbury, archaeologists have found signs of a possible hill fort. A hill fort is a type of fort built on a hill. They also found a Romano-British settlement. This means people lived here during the time of the Roman Empire in Britain.
What Ebsbury Looks Like
Ebsbury is located on a hill. The possible hill fort area is about 700 meters (765 yards) long. It is also about 400 meters (437 yards) wide.
Inside this large area, there are signs of an old field system. This means people used to farm here. There are also two smaller oval-shaped enclosures. An enclosure is an area surrounded by a fence or wall. There is also one triangular enclosure.
On the north and east sides of the hill, there are multiple banks. These banks were likely built to make the fort stronger. An Iron Age settlement was found at the eastern end of the site.
Discoveries at Ebsbury
Archaeologists studied and dug at Ebsbury in 1906. A person named S.W. Doughty led these digs. They found some very interesting items.
One find was a Neolithic perforated mace-head. The Neolithic period was a very early time, even before the Iron Age. A mace-head is the heavy, rounded part of a club. This one had a hole, or "perforation," through it.
They also found two hoards of Roman coins. A hoard is a hidden collection of valuable items. These coins were buried in two earthenware pots. The coins were made between AD 337 and AD 408. Along with the coins, they found parts of a glass vessel. They also found six silver rings.
Where Ebsbury Is Located
Ebsbury is located in Wiltshire, England. It is just west of a village called Great Wishford. The top of the hill is about 175 meters (574 feet) above sea level.
Close by to the west is Grovely Castle. To the south, you can find Grovely Wood. This is the largest forest in Wiltshire.
