Part of the World Heritage Site, Silbury Hill is Europe’s largest man-made hill at 130 feet high (40m).
Built around 2100 BC with antler picks and shoulder blades of oxen as shovels this prehistoric artificial chalk mound is part of the complex of Neolithic monuments around Avebury. It still remains a mystery as to why the hill was constructed. The hill was constructed in several stages between c.2400–2300 BC and displays immense technical skill and prolonged control over labour and resources. Archaeologists calculate that it took 18 million man-hours, equivalent to 500 people working for 15 years to deposit and shape 248,000 cubic metres of earth and fill.
There is a car park and viewing area close to the hill but it is also within easy walking distance from Avebury village itself.
Please don’t climb the hill. It is unstable and the archaeology and rare chalk plants are very fragile.
Further Information
What3Words: punctual.longingly.cared
Grid Reference: SU097685
