Site Event/Activity record ECH2880 - Excavations at Maiden Castle, 1934 - 1935

The earliest detailed archaeological investigations at Maiden Castle were undertaken by WJ Varley in 1934 and 1935, when a number of areas were excavated around the inturned entranceway on the north-eastern side of the site. This initially involved the excavation of four test trenches in 1934, which included fully excavating three areas to sterile soil, and exposing the area along the entranceway itself. These were expanded in the following year. The excavation revealed that the structure of the inner rampart was comprised of a central core of carbonised timber and sand, measuring 3.6m wide by 1.2 - 1.8m high. It was suggested that the burning of this timber occurred while it was in situ, and that this may have been the result of a heath fire or perhaps deliberate burning (3). The central core was revetted with large boulders on both the inner and outer faces of the rampart, and was capped by stone. The outer rampart was identified as being of a different construction, consisting of three successive layers of sand and turf forming the bank, which was fronted by a retaining wall. This appears to have been constructed over an earlier trench 0.6m wide and 0.76m deep which cut through the natural sand beneath the rampart. It was suggested that it may have been a palisade trench (1). A cobbled or flagged surface was exposed through the entranceway during the excavations of 1934 and this appears to have overlain post holes, suggesting the presence of a timber structure (1, 2). Varley also suggested that a possible 'occupation floor', identified within the angle where the southern side of the entranceway and the inner rampart meet could have represented a 'guard chamber' (2).