The internationally-renowned Uffington White Horse can be seen for miles away leaping across the head of a dramatic dry valley in the Ridgeway escarpment.
But this is only part of the unique complex of ancient remains that are found at White Horse Hill and beyond, spreading out across the high chalk downland.
The stylised form of the White Horse, an icon of the English landscape, has been a subject of discussion since the 17th century. Written records date back to the 12th century but do not give proof of the Horse's age or why it was there.
How old is it?
Until recently theories on its age centred on two periods - the Iron Age, as its shape is similar to those found on coins from the period; or Anglo-Saxon, as it was believed it may have been constructed to celebrate King Alfred's victories over the invading Danes in 871AD.
New testing methods on soil samples from the base of the trench showed that the Horse was much older than had been thought and was in fact about 3000 years old (late Bronze-Age).
How was it built?
During the early 1990's archaeologists dug a series of trenches around and just touching the Horse figure. These confirmed that the Horse had been constructed by digging a trench to shape and then backfilling with chalk blocks. It also proved
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