Fraught with high tragedy: new insights on the Maiden Castle Iron Age ‘War Cemetery’ by Dr Martin Smith

Fraught with high tragedy: new insights on the Maiden Castle Iron Age ‘War Cemetery’ by Dr Martin Smith

The Iron Age ‘war cemetery’ at Maiden Castle hillfort, Dorset, England, is one of the most famous and internationally celebrated British archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. When the site was excavated in the 1930s the find of numerous human burials with severe injuries led the site director, Sir Mortimer Wheeler, to conclude that these must be the victims of a Roman assault on the hillfort and subsequent massacre of the population. Over 80 years on from Wheeler’s publication this view has come to be questioned, but alternative theories lacked concrete evidence until now.

This public talk presents new work by archaeologists from Bournemouth University, that has used radiocarbon dating to arrive at new conclusions regarding the dead of Maiden Castle and why they were laid to rest within the ramparts of this iconic site.

The Festival of Archaeology will take place between 19 July to the 3 August 2025.

Dr Martin Smith specialises in the analysis and interpretation of human remains from archaeological contexts. His research has ranged from the dawn of agriculture (c.4000 BC), through to the Bronze Age and Iron Ages and from the Roman period through to the 19th century. His research focuses on the ways past peoples treated their dead, created social worlds for the living and engaged in conflict, as well as considerations of how best to treat human remains in ways that are ethical and respectful.