UNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO Heritage
United Kingdom

Silbury Hill

Neolithic artificial mound in Wiltshire, United Kingdom

Location

Explore the Map

Historical Context

About

Silbury Hill is a prehistoric artificial chalk mound near Avebury in the English county of Wiltshire. It is part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites UNESCO World Heritage Site. At 39.3 metres (129 ft) high, the hill is the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and one of the largest in the world; it is similar in volume to contemporary Egyptian pyramids. The site is in the care of English Heritage. Silbury Hill is part of the complex of Neolithic monuments around Avebury, which includes the Avebury Ring and West Kennet Long Barrow. Its original purpose is still debated. Several other important Neolithic monuments in Wiltshire, including the large henges at Marden and Stonehenge, may be culturally or functionally related to Avebury and Silbury.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history

1776 vertical shaft

October 1776

1849 horizontal tunnel

1849

1867 excavation by Wiltshire Archaeological Society

1867

Atkinson excavations and broadcast

1968–1970

2002 summit collapse and survey

May 2002

Roman village discovery

March 2007

Major stabilisation works

May 2007–early 2008

Letters describing 1776 cavity found

2010

Initial construction (broad date)

c. 2400–2300 BCE

Antler fragment radiocarbon date

c. 2490–2340 BCE

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Defensive Structures

Ditches
category

Miscellaneous Features

Underground Tunnels
category

Water Management Features

Wells
category

Burial and Funerary Structures

Long Barrows
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Villages
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial MoundsSoil Layers
category

Transportation and Communication Structures

RoadsPaths
Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore

Plan Your Visit

Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information

Reference

Details

Country

United Kingdom

Coordinates

51.42° N, -1.86° E