Berkshire History for Kids: Prehistoric Berkshire

across the Berkshire part of the Thames Valley

Hillforts are what they sound like: simple forts built on hills. Many can be seen around Berkshire today. They are sometimes called 'castles'.
You also get valley forts too. Abingdon had one of these.
They cover large areas of land and are surrounded by big earth banks and ditches. The banks originally had strong wooden walls on top, but they have rotted away.
Some small hillforts were built in the Bronze Age. Most were built in the Iron Age.
An Iron Age chief would arrange for his people to build a hillfort. It would keep them and their stores of food safe. This was especially true in times of war.
Inside the fort, there were lots of very large thatched round houses. Their roofs nearly reached to the ground.
There would also be lots of pits of storing grain. When sealed over with clay, the grain would not rot and could last for a very long time.
There might also be small granaries on stilts for grain storage; and perhaps a temple to a Celtic god.
The Uffington White Horse was the symbol of the god worshipped at Uffington Castle next door.
There are 22 hillforts in the Berkshire part of the Thames Valley. Is there one near you?