Abstract
It may be recalled that the excavation of Maiden Castle, Dorset, has been undertaken by the Society of Antiquaries and the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for two main reasons: first, because Maiden Castle is typical; and secondly, because it is at the same time exceptional or even unique. It is typical as representative in position and kind of a very large number of prehistoric fortress-towns in and about the region of Wessex, and its extensive exploration may be expected, therefore, to provide a firm basis for a further inquiry into this notable manifestation of urban development in the later prehistoric period. It is exceptional and, as to its great double entrances, unique in the scale and complexity of its defence-system; and in this respect may be regarded, not merely as the product of an era, but as the monument of some intensely individual and remarkable mind—in Thomas Hardy's words, ‘some remote mind capable of prospective reasoning to a far extent’. Indeed, the hackneyed word ‘personality’ can perhaps be applied more easily to Maiden Castle than to any of the many earthworks which in other regards have an equal claim to investigation.
Published Version
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