Maiden Castle is situated just 2 miles south of Dorchester in Dorset, Southern England. It is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Europe and covers an area of 47 acres.
The name 'Maiden' derives from the Celtic 'Mai Dun' which means 'great hill'.
Although the fort was started some 5000 years ago it is still extremely impressive with some earthworks rising to a height of 6 metres (20 feet).
It is thought that the construction of Maiden Castle began around 3000 BC and flint tools and other object dating from that time have been found.
The hill fort as we see it today, was started during the Iron Age around 400 BC when the fort was extended and the complex series of ramparts and ditches were enlarged.
At the time of the Roman invasion in 43 AD, Maiden Castle was inhabited by the Durotriges tribe. The battle to take the castle was a bloody one: the Romans under Vespasian were finally victorious. Recent excavations have uncovered the bodies of 38 Iron Age warriors, buried with food and drink for their journey into the after life.
After the Roman victory the fort was abandoned and the survivors moved to the recently established town of Dorchester.
Maiden Castle is open all year round and is maintained by English Heritage.
