Hod Hill

The fort sits on a 143 m (469 ft) chalk hill of the same name that lies between the adjacent Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase.

It is clear that the hillfort had long been abandoned by the time the Roman army arrived in Dorset, the many iron ballista bolts which have been found across the hill, clustered in the so-called "Chieftain's hut" area (two hut circles, one of which had an enclosure around it)[4] are now more likely viewed as having been fired from the later Roman fort during target practice.

[5] The Romans built a camp (200 m2 (2,200 sq ft)) in the north-west corner of the original fort, possibly occupied by a mixed force of legionaries and auxiliaries.

Today the hill is an important calcareous grassland habitat, home to spectacular wild flowers and butterflies.

[12] The site was on the Heritage at Risk Register but was removed in 2022 as a result of the Hillforts and Habitats Project.

A view of the northern side of Hod Hill with the inner rampart on the left, the ditch in the middle and the outer rampart on the right.
3D view of the digital terrain model, with the Roman fort at top left