Silbury Hill

Silbury Hill is the largest man-made prehistoric mound in Europe. It was built in around 2,400BC, roughly at the same time as some Egyptian pyramids, and is about 130 feet (39 metres) high and 1,640 feet (500 metres) round. Its purpose is completely unknown. One story (with variations) is that Silbury Hill was created when local Avebury wizards managed to deter the Devil from interring the entire population of nearby Marlborough under an enormous pile of earth, persuading him instead to deposit it where is now. Silbury Hill can be viewed from a path between Avebury and the A4 at West Kennet, but, to prevent damage, there is strictly no access to the hill itself. It is part of a prehistoric sacred landscape that includes Avebury Henge, stone avenues and burial chambers.