Silbury Hill

Silbury HIll was probably built around 2400 BC and is the tallest man-made prehistoric monument in Europe. The mound has been excavated three times but remains an enigma. Nothing was found inside the hill apart from building material and there were no clues as to its purpose or meaning.

The task of constructing the huge mound is comparable with the effort and man hours devoted to building the pyramids. It has been conjectured that it would have taken 18 million man hours (or 15 years work by a 500-man team) to build. 

The base of the mound is 176 metres in diameter and the flat top is 30 metres wide. Visitors are not allowed to climb the mound because erosion would threaten the site.

Images

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