Cissbury Ring
Cissbury Ring Complex
Neolithic to Iron Age (4000 BCE–400 BCE)·Neolithic miners / Iron Age·🇬🇧 West Sussex, South Downs, United Kingdom
About
About Cissbury Ring
Cissbury Ring in West Sussex, South Downs, United Kingdom is a Neolithic to Iron Age (4000 BCE–400 BCE) hillfort attributed to Neolithic miners / Iron Age culture. Detailed survey and excavation document architectural phasing. The site includes a principal feature and ancillary settlement or ceremonial elements.
Why it mattersKey Neolithic miners / Iron Age site illustrating Neolithic to Iron Age (4000 BCE–400 BCE) hillfort traditions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Cissbury Ring
- 02Function of ancillary enclosures
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for Neolithic miners / Iron Age
- 02Defensive and ritual focus
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Flint mines 4000 BCE, hillfort 400 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic to Iron Age (4000 BCE–400 BCE)
- Culture
- Neolithic miners / Iron Age
- Purpose
- Neolithic flint mines under hillfort ramparts
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Flint mines 4000 BCE, hillfort 400 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1000 CE
Abandonment or reuse
On the ground
Structures & features
50.8611° N · 0.3805° W · 115 m · 3 mapped features
Cissbury Ring — Principal Feature
structurePrimary hillfort feature at Cissbury Ring
50.8619° N · 0.3797° WCissbury Ring — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary complex at Cissbury Ring with settlement traces
50.8604° N · 0.3811° WCissbury Ring — Outlier
rock artOutlier alignment or rock art at Cissbury Ring
50.8622° N · 0.3815° W