Buryed Treasure cache is hidden on Bury Hill, the site of an Iron Age hill fort close to the confluence of the river Anton and the Pillhill brook which are just to the south of Anna Valley near Andover.
The hill fort has been the subject of two archaeological surveys, the first in 1939 and the last in 1990. The first was a survey of the ramparts and ditch in an attempt to ascertain how and when they had been built. The latter investigation included a geophysical survey using a magnetometer which consequently led to a dig of the inner camp area and a section of the ditch and ramparts.
The conclusions reached from these investigations were that there had been two phases of occupation. The first phase was in the early iron age when the defences had consisted of a single rampart with timber revetting. The site had been occupied for a short time but was then abandoned for a few centuries before the second phase of occupation in the 1st century B.C. when the occupants had heavily reworked the fort with a second rampart and a large ditch. A limited amount of archaeological finds exist from the first occupation indicating that it was most likely subsistence farming. However, the later inhabitants seem to have been involved with the breeding and/or trading of horses as several nice examples of bronze horse gear were found from this period. Two human remains have also been found at the site, one from each of the phases of occupation.
There is a public footpath across the top of the inner ramparts which leads to the cache but access to the inner camp and ditch area are not currently permitted. Some intermittent tree management is being undertaken on the outer ramparts which you should be aware of.
You can park at the side of the Red Rice road (N51* 11.357, W01* 30.225) which is very close to the hill fort and requires no climb. Alternatively if you fancy a little exercise you can park down in Anna Valley (N51*11.607, W01* 30.430) and walk up the footpath which is a nice climb but can be a bit slippery when wet.
GPS coverage can be a bit of a challenge due to the tree cover but was fairly good at the hiding place. The Cache is a small metal canister with a screw lid.Please refrain from leaving any swaps or TB's in this micro-cache due to limited space
This micro cache contains the co-ords to Buryed Treasure 2 - The Hoard GCK4EY. Where you are welcome to leave any swaps.
If you have a further interest in the Iron Age, then you can visit the Museum of the Iron Age in Andover. Entry is free and you can 'meet' the warrior in the background photo.
1:25,000 OS map of area
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
July 2004: The cache location has been changed as the origonal hiding place had been disturbed
