Silbury Hill
Silbury Hill, located just south of the village of Avebury
in Wiltshire, is a massive artificial mound with a flat top.
It is approximately 130 feet (40 m.) high, with a base circumference
of 1640 feet. It is composed of over 12 million cubic feet
(339,600 cubic m.) of chalk and earth and covers over 5 acres
(2 ha). Silbury Hill occupies a low-lying site and except
at certain points in the landscape (notably from the West
Kennet Long Barrow, it does not protrude significantly above
the horizon.
It was built in three stages, the first begun around 2,660
B.C.E. The last phase comprised the building of six concentric
steps or terraces of chalk which were then covered with chalk
rubble, flints, gravel, and finally soil to form a cone-shaped
mound. Each of the six steps was concealed within the overall
profile of the mound, except the last one at the top which
was left as a terrace or ledge about 17 feet (5 m.) below
the summit. This terrace is clearly visible on the eastern
side of the mound, but less distinct from the west.
Various legends have been attached to Silbury Hill. Folklore
has claimed it to be the burial place of an otherwise forgotten
King Sil (or Zel); of a knight in golden armour; and even
of a solid gold horse and rider. It is also told that the
Devil was going to empty a huge sack of earth on the town
of Marlborough, but was forced to drop it here by the magic
of the priests from nearby Avebury. According to William Stukeley,
the top of the hill was dug into in 1723 and some bones were
discovered together with an ancient bridle. The mound was
again dug into in 1776 and in 1849. In 1967, excavations were
undertaken by Richard Atkinson but again neither burials nor
any clue to the mound's meaning were discovered. Atkinson
did learn, however, through radiocarbon analysis that the
mound dates to around 2660 B.C.E. Further evidence from the
remains of plants and insects indicated that the structure
was begun during the first week in August, probably at the
time of the Celtic festival of Lugnasadh (or Lammas) at the
start of the harvest season.
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