Cambridgeshire’s first complete geophysical survey of an Iron Age Hillfort begins
In crisp late November 2024, the first stage in a planned five-year project to train the next generation of archaeologists began at Wandlebury Iron Age Hillfort, marking the start of Cambridgeshire’s first complete survey of an Iron Age hillfort.
The Iron Age hillfort, constructed during the middle-Iron Age, sits in Cambridge Past, Present and Future’s Wandlebury Country Park, which also plays host to an 18th century house, stables and gardens.
In , Cambridge archaeologists Grahame Clark and Brian Hartley investigated the defences of the hillfort and the east portion of the interior. Their excavations suggested that the site was made up of three banks and two ditches, consisting of two phases of defences, with a large number of pits and postholes; some of which contained human remains. This investigation ran in parallel with into the contentious ‘hill figures’ of Gog Magog. Further burials were found in .
The site inside the Scheduled Monument has lain largely untouched since , when excavations were carried out by Cambridge’s Department of 91̽»¨ÊÓƵ and the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, led by Charly French. Their focus was on the outer parts of the interior as well as the exterior of the hillfort defences, rather than the defences themselves. The team unearthed a late-Bronze Age to early-Iron Age ‘pit’ settlement, pre-dating the main defensive earthworks, as well as numerous features relating to the hillfort occupation.
Now almost thirty years later, following a successful student training exercise in Spring 2024 outside the Scheduled Monument, Cambridge researchers are looking forward to completing further training and investigations of the Iron Age hillfort and its later histories. This is the start of a five-year project which will see over 120 undergraduate students from the Department of 91̽»¨ÊÓƵ at Cambridge learn the skills needed to become world-class archaeologists. Working with the team at Cambridge Past Present and Future and Wandlebury Country Park, they will uncover more details about the history of the site.
Students at work during the 2024 Training Dig at Wandlebury | Image: Lydia Clough
Students at work during the 2024 Training Dig at Wandlebury | Image: Lydia Clough
Students at work during the 2024 Training Dig at Wandlebury | Image: Lydia Clough
Students at work during the 2024 Training Dig at Wandlebury | Image: Lydia Clough
After applying successfully for a licence to conduct geophysics within the Scheduled Monument from Historic England, in November 2024, a team of geophysicists from independent contractor Magnitude Surveys worked with Cambridge Archaeological Unit’s, Oscar Aldred, and Director, Matt Brudenell. Jack and Dan, from Magnitude, began by carrying out an extensive magnetometer survey, which identified buried linear features and pits, in addition to ferrous and burnt material. They then used these results in consultation with Oscar and Matt, and Dan back in Magnitude’s office, in conjunction with historical and GIS maps, planning where to carry out another type of geophysical survey called Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The results of these two geophysical techniques suggest that there had been disturbance of archaeological remains connected with the Iron Age hillfort from 18th century and later ‘landscaping’ activities, including the filling in of the hillfort’s inner ditch, the flattening of the inner rampart, and the building of a manor house and formal gardens. However, the results also show that much of the interior areas of the hillfort are well preserved.
In fact, the areas specifically targeted with GPR show that there is very good preservation at between 0.5 to 1m below the surface showing evidence for 18th century and later outhouse activity, and below 1m, probable Iron Age activity in the form of pitting, structural evidence and possible entrance features relating to a postulated eastern entrance into the hillfort.
Oscar Aldred and Matt Brudenell discussing the survey | Image: Lydia Clough
Oscar Aldred and Matt Brudenell discussing the survey | Image: Lydia Clough
Dan Nichols surveying the South Field | Video: Lydia Clough
Dan Nichols surveying the South Field | Video: Lydia Clough
Dan Nichols surveying the site | Image: Lydia Clough
Dan Nichols surveying the site | Image: Lydia Clough
Oscar Aldred said: "The geophysics were carried out slickly by Jack and Dan, and the team at Magnitude Surveys, and these surveys will be a tremendously useful resource to examine in the years to come. It is also exciting to know that Wandlebury still has many secrets to reveal to us, and it is great that Cambridge students will be part of these discoveries."
The geophysical surveys have provided a tremendous foundation for the next steps in the five-year project, and were used as a part of an application for consent to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) via Historic England to excavate within the designated limits of Wandlebury’s hillfort and later house and gardens. The team will examine the interior with regular spaced test pits, as well as a few trenches, to assess the preservation of Wandlebury’s original use as an Iron Age settlement and hillfort, as well as its earlier and later histories; including the pre-hillfort ‘pit’ settlement and the 18th century house and formal gardens. Furthermore, the test pits and trenches will enable the team to calibrate the geophysics results so that in the subsequent investigations there will be a more informed understanding of the geophysical survey results.
Magnetic Gradient
Magnetic Gradient
The 2025 excavation runs from 28 April to 9 May with a free public Open Day at Wandlebury Country Park on Saturday 3 May 10:30-16:00. Site tours will also be available on both Saturday 3 and 10 May.
Published 23 April 2025
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