Silbury Hill Summit Platform
Silbury Hill Summit Platform North Annex · Silbury Site
Multi-period (4000 BCE–1000 CE)·Multi-period·🇬🇧 Wiltshire, Avebury, United Kingdom
About
About Silbury Hill Summit Platform
Silbury Hill Summit Platform in Wiltshire, Avebury, United Kingdom is a Multi-period (4000 BCE–1000 CE) archaeological wonder attributed to Multi-period. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal site extent 150 × 90 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 51.4150N -1.8580E controls access to Wiltshire resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey archaeological wonder for Wiltshire, Avebury, illustrating Multi-period construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2000 BCE
- Period
- Multi-period (4000 BCE–1000 CE)
- Culture
- Multi-period
- Purpose
- Ceremonial and residential complex
- Rediscovered
- 1970 survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 2000 BCE
Initial construction of Silbury Hill Summit Platform main structure
c. 1910
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1970–2015
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Silbury Hill Summit Platform) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
51.4150° N · 1.8580° W · 150 m · 4 mapped features
Silbury Hill Summit Platform — Main Structure
structurePrincipal archaeological wonder — Site extent 150 × 90 m with diagnostic masonry/panel
51.4158° N · 1.8571° WSilbury Hill Summit Platform — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
51.4140° N · 1.8587° WSilbury Hill Summit Platform — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
51.4165° N · 1.8568° WSilbury Hill Summit Platform — Hydraulic/Cistern
hydraulicHydraulic feature — cistern/reservoir or rock-cut channel associated with site
51.4134° N · 1.8591° W