Badbury Rings, Iron Age hillfort in Dorset, United Kingdom
Badbury Rings is an Iron Age fort in Dorset with three concentric earthwork banks and deep ditches protecting a hilltop location. The entire structure demonstrates a carefully planned defensive design spread across open landscape.
The fort was built around 500 BC and later became a strategic junction where five Roman roads converged. This location gave it military importance that lasted through many centuries.
The name comes from an Anglo-Saxon princess, and the location served as a meeting point for trade and exchange across generations. Visitors can still sense how this place connected different communities and cultures over time.
The site is accessible on foot with trails crossing the hilltop and informational signs explaining the features. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven and weather can change quickly at this elevated location.
The Romans built a temple immediately west of the fort, where excavations uncovered painted wall plaster, coins, and numerous bronze items. These findings show how deeply Roman influence had taken root at this location.
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