WWI Trenches – a new source of information for hillforts?

During the course of a Twitter conversation with Dr Rachel Pope the other night, an unusual facet of hillfort excavation arose. Hillforts are, as is often remarked, usually the most prominent prehistoric structures in the landscape. But for all their familiarity, only a tiny percentage have been excavated, and an even smaller percentage have been excavated in a meaningful, methodical fashion. Interiors, until the late 20th century, were barely touched at all, and yet when they are excavated, the archaeology (when present) is usually far richer than is found in the ramparts, where excavations traditionally took place.

Anyway – back to the exchange. We were talking about Old Oswestry hillfort, and the practicalities of creating a digital reconstruction. I joked that if someone went and excavated the interior, I’d then give a model a go. Then it occurred to me that someone had already dug the interior – or rather a great many people had. Old Oswestry hillfort, like a number of other hillforts, was used as a location for trench warfare practise during the First World War. They were discreet, out of the way places, which were also – conversely – easy to find. Trenches – deep trenches – zig-zag across the interior of Old Oswestry, The Caburn, and a fair number of other hillforts.

Are there any records of these very un-archaeological excavations? What did they find when they were digging? Who, most importantly, would be able to tell us? If you have any ideas, please get in touch through the comments section below.