Secrets of 'unlucky' Bradford hill fort under the microscope

From the Wiltshire Times:

Described by one archaeologist as the unluckiest hill fort in Wiltshire, the Iron Age past of Budbury in Bradford on Avon remains to this day shrouded in mystery.

Local historians have been trying to unlock Budbury’s secrets ever since eminent archaeologist GJ Wainwright uncovered evidence of a substantial hill fort in the area, which is now developed into housing, dating back to as early as 600BC.

Wainwright believed he was on the verge of uncovering a burial mound, so the discovery of the hill fort, thought to cover up to six acres of land, came as a complete surprise.

From Monday, Bradford on Avon Museum will host a three-week long exhibition charting the history of Budbury, which will include 16,000 pieces of Iron Age pottery, as well as needles made out of bone and bronze fingerings, discovered during Wainwright’s excavation on loan from the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes.

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Go back to the Iron Age at museum

From This is bath.co.uk:

An Iron Age expert will be bringing history to life with a day of activities in Bradford on Avon this weekend.

Historian Matt Russell will be offering people the chance to have their own Iron Age tattoo as well as building shields, spear tips and pouches.

Iron Age weapons, metal and clothing will also be on display at the free event, which runs from 10am to 4pm on Saturday. It is the first in a month of activities and exhibitions at the Bradford on Avon Museum.

Ancient artefacts including 16,000 pieces of Iron Age pottery discovered during an excavation of Budbury, near Bradford, in 1969 will be available to view in the museum's library meeting room from Monday, July 13 to Sunday, August 2.

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