The Ridgeway hills that stretch east-west, north of the village, provided a natural causeway for Neolithic man (4500-2000BC), bronze age man (2000-500BC) and iron age man (500BC-50AD). This Ridgeway track, apart from facilitating communication and trade also provided a perfect vantage point from which to scan the surrounding countryside for enemies - especially necessary in order to organise a defence should a sea-born attack threaten. There are at least 22 tumuli (most probably the burial mounds of local chieftains) still existent within Abbotsbury Parish.

The iron-age Hillfort known as Abbotsbury Castle was built on Wears Hill north-west of the village. This Hillfort would have been very important strategically in that the first sightings of an invasion could be notified to the other neighbouring hillforts. The Celtic tribe inhabiting this area at that time were known as the Durotriges.

The Roman occupation of this area dates from 43/44AD when Vespasian's 2nd Augustian Legion carried out a campaign in the region which led to the subjugation of the Durotriges tribe. It appears that the defenders of Abbotsbury Castle capitulated rather than resisted however, for there is no evidence to suggest a violent conclusion - but the Hillfort has yet to be excavated! Although there was no documented Roman occupation around Abbotsbury. with Durnovaria (Dorchester) so close, the Romans must have settled the area and there have been sufficient findings to suggest that this was so.

With thanks to Abbotsbury, digital cameras and Optical Character Recognition software!

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