The Durotriges tribe were among the most fascinating and defiant peoples of Iron Age Britain. Occupying the chalky hills and coastal plains of what is now Dorset and parts of the South West, they left behind enormous hillforts, distinctive pottery, and a legacy of rebellion against Roman conquest. In this post, we’ll dig deep into their everyday life, society, and dramatic fall under Rome’s expanding empire.
Who Were the Durotriges?
The Durotriges were a Celtic tribe of southern Britain during the Late Iron Age, occupying what we now call Dorset, with parts of Somerset, Wiltshire, and even Devon. They were one of the tribes noted by classical Roman sources, though most of what we know comes from archaeology, not written records.
Their name is thought to mean something like “fort dwellers” (from Gaulish duro = fort, and trig-es = dwellers), which fits, given the sheer number of massive hillforts in their territory. They were settled, agricultural, and militarised—not roaming warrior bands, but organised communities with complex social and political structures.
Territory and Landscape
The Durotriges inhabited a region dominated by chalk downland, valleys, and a dramatic coastline (the Jurassic Coast). Their heartland was defined by:
- Maiden Castle near Dorchester – the most famous and possibly ceremonial centre
- Hod Hill, Hambledon Hill, and Eggardon Hill – fortified with multiple ramparts
- The Frome, Stour, and Avon river systems
- Easy access to both inland trade routes and coastal ports
Unlike tribes in the flatter, arable-rich east, the Durotriges relied on mixed farming and maritime activity. Their lands weren’t ideal for large-scale cereal production, which shaped their economy and society.
Society and Daily Life
Settlement
Most people lived in small farming hamlets or enclosed homesteads, with roundhouses grouped within field systems. These were connected by trackways and often sat within sight of a nearby hillfort. Settlements were planned and organised, with evidence of long-term land use.
A roundhouse was a circular structure made from timber with a thatched roof. These were well-insulated and central to family life.
Farming and Diet
They practised mixed agriculture:
- Crops: barley, wheat, and rye (ground by hand using quern stones)
- Livestock: cattle (for meat and dairy), pigs, sheep/goats (for meat and wool), and horses (for transport and status)
- Tools: iron-tipped ploughs, sickles, and spades
They also collected wild food, fished, and kept bees.
Craftsmanship
The Durotriges are especially known for their:
- Black Burnished Ware (BB1): A high-quality, hand-made, black pottery with burnished (polished) surfaces. Produced at Purbeck and Poole Harbour and traded widely across southern Britain—even into Roman times.
- Ironwork: Agricultural tools, weapons, and decorative items.
- Beads and brooches: Often made from glass, bronze, or bone.
Economy and Coinage
Unlike many British tribes, the Durotriges had a weaker monetary economy. They struck their own coins, but their coinage is notable for being debased and poorly struck, often cast rather than struck in the later phase. This suggests:
- They had less access to bullion (precious metals)
- They weren’t strongly integrated into the continental trade networks that flourished in the southeast
- Coinage may have had more ritual or prestige value than practical buying power
Interestingly, their economy seems to have relied more on barter, local exchange, and tribute systems than on fully monetised trade.
Politics, Power, and Tribal Organisation
The Durotriges weren’t a single kingdom with a capital and king. Like most British tribes, they were a confederation of smaller clans or groups who shared language, customs, and perhaps common ancestry.
- Leadership was likely distributed between local chieftains or aristocratic families
- Hillforts were more than military—they were administrative centres, markets, and ritual spaces
- Tribal identity may have been fluid, with alliances and rivalries with neighbouring tribes such as the Belgae to the east and the Dumnonii to the west
Religion and Beliefs
Like other Iron Age Britons, the Durotriges followed polytheistic beliefs centred on nature, ancestor worship, and sacred landscapes.
Likely Features:
- Ritual deposits: Weapons, animal bones, and ceramics placed in rivers or pits
- Burial customs: Typically cremation in the earlier Iron Age; later inhumation (burial) appears with Roman influence
- Sacred spaces: Not temples as such, but groves, springs, and possibly hilltops
- No surviving written mythology—what we assume comes from comparative studies with Gaulish and Irish Celtic religion
The Roman Conquest and Durotrigan Resistance
The Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43, led by Aulus Plautius, targeted the southern tribes first. The Durotriges resisted fiercely, and several key sites bear the scars of battle.
Maiden Castle
Excavated in the 1930s by Sir Mortimer Wheeler, it revealed:
- Multiple ramparts and gates—suggesting a highly defended site
- A cemetery with skeletons showing trauma, including spear and sword wounds and embedded ballista bolts (large Roman projectiles)
- Evidence of mass burial—possibly after a final stand
While the exact narrative has been challenged (some burials might pre-date the invasion), the site still shows signs of a violent end to Iron Age occupation.
Hod Hill
This site was overrun and reused by the Romans, who built a fort directly on top of the previous hillfort—likely to assert dominance and suppress rebellion.
Aftermath and Romanisation
After conquest, the region was absorbed into the new Roman province. The Durotriges didn’t vanish, but their way of life transformed:
- Hillforts were abandoned or fell into disuse
- People moved into Roman-style towns, such as:
- Durnovaria (Dorchester) – likely built atop or near a Durotrigan settlement
- Vindocladia (likely near modern Badbury Rings)
- Villas, baths, roads, and amphitheatres appeared
- Pottery production like Black Burnished Ware continued well into the Roman period
By the 2nd century AD, many former Durotriges were living very much under Roman rule, but regional identity probably persisted in subtle ways.
Glossary of Terms
- Hillfort – A fortified settlement on a hill, often with earthen ramparts and ditches
- Rampart – A defensive embankment made of earth or stone
- Black Burnished Ware – Hand-made black pottery with burnished surfaces
- Ballista – An ancient missile weapon that launched large bolts or stones
- Cremation/Inhumation – Methods of burial (burning remains vs. burial in ground)
- Coin debasement – Reduction in precious metal content, often in times of scarcity
- Romanisation – The adoption of Roman culture and practices
Pub Quiz Gold
- The Durotriges were one of the last British tribes to resist Roman conquest.
- Maiden Castle was their most famous hillfort and may have been a tribal centre.
- Their pottery (Black Burnished Ware) was so good, it continued into Roman times.
- They minted their own coins—but they were cheap and rough.
- Their lands were among the most densely populated in Iron Age Britain.
