Silbury Hill

Silbury Hill is an immense artificial mound created during the late Neolithic, probably between about 2470 and 2350 BC. It belongs to the same extraordinary period of monument building that transformed the landscape around Avebury, yet its original purpose remains unknown. Its size demonstrates a substantial commitment of labour, but does not establish that it was a tomb. Later generations reshaped the surrounding landscape: a Roman road and settlement developed near its base, and the summit may have been altered for defensive use in the early medieval period. Attempts to solve its mystery caused considerable damage. In 1776, miners directed by Edward Drax dug a shaft from the top, expecting to find a central burial, but did not discover one. Further investigations followed. The hill therefore preserves both a prehistoric construction history and the physical consequences of centuries of curiosity about it. Period: Late Neolithic; approximately 2470–2350 BC Grid reference: SU 09950 68539 Protection: Scheduled monument Source: Historic England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1008445 (Open Government Licence). © Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Banner photo: "SilburyHill gobeirne" by Greg O'Beirne, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.