Monument record MWX1092 - Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth

A multi-period site with occupation ranging from the Palaeolithic through to the Roman period. See child records and related records for details about specific sites.

HENGISTBURY HEAD AND ITS ANTIQUITIES (SZ 1790) The name appears to be more or less modern, earlier versions being `Hednesburia' (12th c) and 'Hynesbury' (17th c) (a); `Hengistbury' or `Hengist's Hill' occurs in the 18th c, when it was also called `Stone Horse Hill' (b). The Head is a narrow peninsula with low-lying land on the north side, and Warren Hill, rising to about 100 ft above sea-level on the south. It is composed of Bracklesham Beds containing concretionary masses of ironstone and sandstone, the former of which was once extensively worked (a). The peninsula has evidence of occupation from Upper Palaeolithic to Roman, and was particularly active in the Bronze Age (12 extant barrows) and in the Iron Age/Romano-British period, when it was wholly cut off by a rampart-and-ditch complex (the 'Double Dykes') and occupied by a trading station, yielding large numbers of Iron Age coins. Major excavation, chiefly concerned with the Iron Age/RB aspect, but including 3 barrows, was carried out by J P Bushe-Fox in 1911-12, and other excavations, mainly of barrows, were done later. See annexed Map Diagram and records. (1) Hengistbury Head is a promontory within the Solent, c.2km in length and 0.5km wide and has evidence of multi-period occupation ranging from the Palaeolithic through to the Roman period. The Neolithic settlement has been interpreted as one of high status, an ongoing trend reflected later in the presence of a `Wessex Culture' burial recovered from one of the round barrows. Late Iron Age occupation featured a range of industrial activities including metal working, shale and glass working and salt production. Trade links were also much in evidence, notably with western Britain and France. The earliest archaeological survey and description of Hengistbury Head, showing the round barrows and Iron Age defences was published in 1779 (b). However, no significant discoveries were made until 1909 when Iron Age and Roman pottery and coins were found. Excavations carried out by Bushe Fox (a) in 1911-12 located Iron Age and Roman features, three of the round barrows were also excavated. Eight more round barrows and addition Iron Age and Roman features were excavated in 1918-1922 by H St George Gray. Excavations by Calkin during the 1950s, Mace in 1957 (2) and Dr John Campbell in 1968-9 (3). A Mesolithic site was identified by Ronald Powell in 1977. An excavation programme was devised in 1979 associated with a research programme into social and economic change in the South British Iron Age, undertaken by the Institute of Archaeology at Oxford. Excavations took place on the north side of the Head close to the shore of Christchurch Harbour where previous excavations indicated that the Iron Age/Roman occupation was most intense. Research was also carried out on aspects of the Neolithic and Bronze Age activity in the area and an investigation of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites was also undertaken. (4-5)

Record last edited

Feb 9 2024 7:37PM