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Devil's Dyke is the remains of a defensive ditch around an ancient settlement of the Catuvellauni tribe of Ancient Britain. It lies at the east side of the current village of Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England. It has possible associations with Julius Caesar's second invasion of Britain (54 BC).
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History
The area was excavated by Sir Mortimer Wheeler in 1932. According to a plaque at one entrance to the dyke, the land was presented by Lord Brocket in 1937 on the occasion of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
The site is said to be where Julius Caesar defeated Cassivellaunus in 54 BC. Although the historical evidence neither supports nor disproves this, the sign at the entrance to the Dyke states this (based on the assertions of Sir Mortimer), which has led to the claim often being repeated as an established fact.
It is believed to have been occupied by invading Belgae and nearby archaeological finds of Belgic and pre-Belgic pottery, in excavations during the 1970s, appear to confirm their influence here.
Description
Today two sections of the ditch remain. The western section, adjacent to the village, is named Devil's Dyke. It is around 30 m wide and 12 m deep at its largest. A smaller ditch to the east is known as "The Slad". A moat continues the line of the ditch to the south of The Slad.
Some archaeologists believe that the ditch was connected with other local earthworks, particularly Beech Bottom Dyke, located four miles away to the south west, to create a large enclosed settlement, using a single defensive earthwork running from the River Lea to the River Ver, which, if correct, would mean that it was one of the largest Iron Age settlements in Britain. The fortifications were probably erected by King Cunobelinus to define areas of land around their tribal centre at Verlamion – the predecessor of the later Roman city of Verulamium.
The site is marked as a "Belgic Oppidum" on Ordnance Survey maps.