I’m studying Archaeology as a retirement project and I am planning a Masters dissertation on the topic of the defence qualities of Iron Age ramparts. I know some of you expert slingers have commented on previous experiments by Jon Bryant Finney and it occurred to me to ask if it might be possible to enlist your expertise in the design and conduct of my study.
 
What I’m looking into is whether the changes of rampart design in the Middle Iron Age did improve how well the hillforts could be defended by slingers. (The ramparts changed shape, and additional ramparts were added; many authorities think this wasn’t to do with improving defence.) Unlike Finney’s experiment, range would not be the only issue; I’d want to consider accuracy and how you’d achieve the right trajectory to exploit the design of the ramparts.  
 
If I get to doing quantified experiments, I’d want to use expert slingers as participants (I have previous experience of human performance experiments), but a qualitative examination of the idea would come first, again with expert input being necessary.  
 
The hillforts I’m talking about are mostly in southern England and in Wales, and if I do an experiment I’d probably be using a suitably-shaped hillside in southern England, so slingers in this area would be most useful, but of course input by email could also help.  
 
If you'd be interested in helping, please let me know.
 
Thanks,
 
Pete Robertson

CA and David moringstar are in your country (not really sure about geography), as well as a few others I believe, and they have been slinging for a good while now.  
 
If you have any questions on authenticity or just general slinging the group on here will have an answer for you.
 
Welcome!

I'd like to look at some paintings of the fort, taken from above... I'm thinking to a defensive "building" found in my Region, dating to the Copper Age.
It's very peculiar for it's moat, seen from the sky, is like a }  
This allowed slingers or archers to take invaders into a crossed fire!
Greetings,
Mauro.

Pete, Get a load of the event Rockman just posted!!! This may give you some idea what two bodies of troops armed with slings may have looked like.

This appears to be a project I can sink my teeth into.

Tactics 101...When the enemy's in range...so are you!!! Remember there's probably a very good chance that the force attacking your hillfort has a contigent of slingers that are hell-bent on clearing your guys off the parapets.

Quote from kentuckythrower on Jan 28^th, 2012, 6:21am:

 
The elevation of the hill gives a huge range advantage to the defenders. Trying to sling at the defenders would be a dicey proposition. The Romans did successfully use slingers against hillforts but they were almost certainly using lead bullets to offset the height disadvantage. British slingers only used stone or baked clay ammo.
 
Strangely, there is no evidence of archery in Iron Age Britain. I find impossible to believe there wasnt any, but the lack of finds is remarkable.

Thank you Pete!
I'm going to look for them now; I'll also look for these defences I wrote you about and compare these aerial photographs.
Later,
Mauro.

This is a subject I know little about but find fascinating.  Is there any way you can share these photographs with us?

David, You're entirely correct that throwing from an elevation will increase the range of a sling. In surveying hillforts, at what distance from them will you generally begin to find slingstones? After the weather breaks over here I fully intend on running tests.  
 

Quote from kentuckythrower on Jan 30^th, 2012, 9:25am:

 
Conversely, slinging uphill reduces the range considerably. Assuming both the extension and reduction in range to be around 50 m, would mean that attackers would have to cross up to 100m under fire before getting close enough to return it.(?)
 
Considering that the stones thrown from ancient hilltop forts would have been radially dispersed over a large area, would it be possible to identify a stone as having been thrown from it with any degree of certainty?

Quote from Aussie on Jan 30^th, 2012, 3:49pm:

 
At Maiden hill, the ammo dumps were made up of large, ideally sized and shaped stones from a river bed some ways off from the main site, so yes, they would be recognizable. But generally, I don't think Maiden Hill or the other Iron Age hillforts have produced this sort of archaeological record (dispersion of shot). There is one example where you can trace very precisely the distribution of shot (lead) in battle condition:
 
A. V. A. J. Bosman, Pouring Lead in the Pouring Rain:
Making Lead Slingshot under Battle Conditions, dans: C. van Driel-Murray (éd.), Roman
Military Equipment: Experiment and Reality, JRMES 6, 1995, 99–103.
 
And at Maiden Hill, the Romans used catapults (sharp-throwers) to target the defenders-- you can actually trace ranging shots, and one particularly good gunner, from the pattern of distribution of the bolt heads in the chalky soil on the hillfort.  

Kentuckythrower (and anyone):  
If you want details and have access to a library with archaeological sources, I suggest looking at the following references. In terms of where slingstones are found, the evidence is all from pits filled with them (presumed to be for use in defence). There were thousands in some cases. Finney discusses sizes etc (I think his monograph is mentioned elsewhere on this site).  
 
Pete
 
Avery, M. 1993a. Hillfort defences of southern Britain: Vol. 1 - Ramparts, entrances, dating, prehistory. BAR British Series 231. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.
Finney, J. B. 2006. Middle Iron Age Warfare of the Hillfort Dominated Zone c. 400 BC to c. 150 BC. BAR British Series 423, Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.
Wheeler, R. E. M. 1943. Maiden Castle, Dorset. Oxford: Research Report of the Committee of the Society of Antiquaries 12.
 
and for everything you ever wanted to know about the British Iron Age, but were afraid to ask:
Cunliffe, B. W. 2005. Iron Age Communities in Britain. 4th (paperback) ed. Abingdon: Routledge.

Hi Pete,
I'll see if my university's library has these references. The problem I generally face over here is it seems all the attention is being paid to either New World or Classical Archaeology. There seems to be a dearth of anything related to the Old World outide the Roman, Greek, or Egytian references.  

Hi Mauro,
Glad to make contact with you. I have got to tell you the lack of funding seems to be prevalent worldwide. The bulk of my studies are oriented towards New World Archaeology, and The Old World Archaeology is just skimmed over. I find this unacceptable since my primary interest is in the prehistory of Europe.
 
Getting back to slinging and helping Pete in his studies. This topic has really grabbed my interest as it seems to hit home...I am of British ancestry. I'd like to re-discover my ancestry and the way they survived. The attack and defense of the hillforts falls right in line with my background. With this in mind, I have taken on this project for very personal reasons.  
 
I don't know if you have read too much about me, but I've been using slings for better than four decades now and have quite a bit of experience in how they function. Despite the fact I've not been formally "trained" in their use, I can definitely put a stone on target. What I want to do is accurately replicate slinging to gain a better understanding of what it must have been like to actually attack, or defend one of these hillforts.  
Dave

Hallo Dave!
Feel free to contact me whenever you want! Don't be afraid, I love to share knowledge!
Plus, I'm very into European prehistory (especially Upper and Middle Paleolithic), for I live in one of the most studied Regions in Italy; an article I wrote about some Middle Paleolithic/Mesolithic/Neolithic and Copper Age things we found during our surveys is going to be published soon, I'll be glad to send it to you as soon as the book is published!
Meanwhile, ask whatever you want without scruples!!  
Greetings,
Mauro.

I think it only took us about 3 hours to get to danebury from my house (geographical centre of england)  
But it's probably a bit too public for practical experiments.  
 
Unless of course you can get the local historical society on side (small museum nearby we also visited)  
And then we might be able to have the fort for the day - that would be fun  

I'm not sure we'll be able to use an open-to-the-public hillfort, for safety reasons among others. So I'm thinking of approaching landowners with forts on their land or maybe just finding some slopes that replicate the different type of rampart. However, I will be discussing it with English Heritage and others, so you never know.  
 
Before doing the experiment, though, I think just a visit to two or three sites not far apart, to get a couple of you expert slingers to comment on the suitability of the features. Wessex (Hants/Dorset/Wilts) is favourite because there are numerous accessible sites just a few miles apart.  I guess we could video the visit for others to comment on, too. I will also (eventually) "define" the slopes, distances, and so on and that would enable comment from the interested slingers from elsewhere.  
 
It seems that you need a flat stance - a "fighting platform" -  at the top of the rampart to operate from. (That makes "simulating" a rampart more complex than just finding a hill.) One question is, from such a platform is it easier/more effective to sling down a steep slope (say 50 degrees) than down a vertical wall? In that case, it's not range that is the issue, but whether the angle inhibits the power you'd need to be effective against attackers in the ditch.  
 
Range (and accuracy) would be more relevant when defending against attackers who were outside the second (or third) rampart.  Even then, in most cases the defenders would have a height advantage due to the hillside location of the fort. There is evidence (e.g. from Julius Caesar's writings) that barrages of stones were used by attackers to clear the ramparts of defenders, before attacking the gates, so I'm interested in the attackers' perspective on the ramparts, too.  
 
Pete

Quote:

 
Not necessarily - it's easy enough to just sling over something while hiding behind it.  
 
If the slope below the fort was full of enemy - that would make a lot more sense than sticking your head above the 'parapet' where someone could take a shot at you.
 
With heavier missiles in particular blind shooting would make sense. Even if you don't hit someone directly the rock could do damage on it's way downslope.  
 
Not a clue where wessex is without looking at a map- but I'm up for a wander around  
I'll even bring the human trebuchet: very large pouch. To demonstrate hidden heavy stone bombardment

As I understand it, there was a stockade wall on top of the rampart all the way around.
 There was also a substantial structure on either side of the gate.
 
There is a good story linked somewhere describing an attack on a fort in the Pacific islands, both sides using slings. I will try and find the link...
 
(EDIT)
 
Here is the link  http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1220197274/0#0

Does anyone know if every rampart/parapet of a hillfort was topped with a palisade? If so, did it present a solid, continuous front? Was it merely a picket? How high were these palisades? Waist high? Chest high? Head high? I think this will have a bearing on how slingers would defend the work. Did the Iron Age folks utilize any form of obstacles besides the parapet and palisade? Abattis? Caltrops? Trous-de-loup?

It's generally thought that there would be a pallisade or similar on the top of the inner rampart, but I'm not sure that it's proven. Before reading David's comments, I was wondering if it might hinder slingers too much.  
 
Abatis could have been used, but wouldn't leave archaeology, and I don't recall this being mentioned - they'd maybe rely on the outer works to slow attackers down and/or keep them distant - but Finney suggests they might have let scrub grow inside the outer earth works, to hinder attacking slingers.  
 
However, there are some cases of chevaux-de-frise in stone and speculation that wooden stakes could have been used similarly; they tend to be in specific approaches rather than for all-round defence. I do think, however, that they are convincing re defence - what else could they be for?
 
I think of caltrops as being anti-cavalry, and they'd probably not charge hillforts, but I suppose you could use them against lightly shod people. Don't know of any evidence for them.  
 
The written accounts relating to Britain or similar Celts are very sparse (G J Caesar) and only come right at the end of the period of interest and when already affected by Roman influence. So we're relying on archeaological remains. I'll keep my eye open for anything that could be interpreted this way, in future reading.

[quote author=kentuckythrower link=1327496223/30#40 date=132827http://slinging.org/forum/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/cry.gif9597 Did the Iron Age folks utilize any form of obstacles besides the parapet and palisade? Abattis? Caltrops? Trous-de-loup? [/quote]
 
I definitely think abattis would be ineffective. The abbatis consists of felled trees blocking a path to a certain area. Extensive use of these as far as I can tell wouldn't be practical for blocking foot or cavalry advances seeing as how soldiers would simply have to go around the area. It would channel movement to specific areas but the abbatis is more intended for blocking roads against mechanized units (i.e. tanks and artillery). It would Block the movement of siege weaponry however I don't think these would be used for attacking hillforts, just for the time involved in a siege. Siege weapons would have been more oriented into the attack on a castle.   Caltrops would be effective as long as the iron resources were available. Some obstacles also offer cover to advancing troops, which would be a downside for defenders relying on volume of fire. Much of what I have stated is however speculation based on a practical mindset, not fact. So comments or corrections are welcome.  

Abbatis are very effective against infantry. As an example I present Fort Carrilon (Ticonderoga) and the use the French made of Abbatis against the British.

I live in Florida where there no hills and no native rocks for slinging.
However ~ I'll contribute with a picture.

It's good to have you here KT, you seem really enthusiastic  
 
By the way, out of curiosity: here are Sardinian's typical Iron Age fortifications
http://www.sardi.it/sardegna/nurag1.htm
We call them "Nuraghe", a word which means nothing in Italian. They may be very big and articulated in many rooms, and have nothing to do with my Region's "Gradinas" or the earlier Conelle di Arcevia defensive settlement!
Greetings,
Mauro.

Yes, the structure is quite similar to a blast furnace.
The size is not, howewer: those buildings are often higher than 10 meters, and some are grouped like Medieval castles!
Greetings,
Mauro.

I think a thicket of briars at least waist high would be fairly effective at slowing down the operation. Based on experience, incoming projectiles have no problem penetrating thickets.

Quote from kentuckythrower on Feb 5^th, 2012, 10:10pm:

 
A cheap short sword has no trouble penetrating a waist high thicket either.. A couple swings and done. No offense but just a thought.  

I will second Nemo's coment about the steepness of the banks. I climbed down the face of the rampart at Danebury to collect a black feather that is still in my hatband today. I struggled to keep my footing while wearing modern army surplus boots. In the footwear of the period it would be even harder. Anything growing or sticking out of the surface would be helpful for getting up the slope.
 
It is also worth noting that the slopes of these forts are clear in these days.

Another use for your thicket of briars.. after they start to be overrun you could set them on fire.  Have barrels of pitch or something else flammable strategically located to get the whole thing going up at once.  That might slow down the attack significantly and even kill or disable some attackers.

I agree with Bill's idea that the slopes were kept bare by grazing. (I was going to put a pun about grazing fire but can't think of one)
 
Anyways:  
 
-- there are three belts of ditches around Maiden Castle. Presumably the killing ground is between the slope of two ditches. Does this suppose that you are firing slings with minimum lob, with straight trajectories ? = side arm. Generally, I suppose the slope is steep enough that it would make scaling rather difficult. Why multiple ditches, though ? Do you man the crest between ditches ?
 
-- the main point is the gates, where the slingstone depots were concentrated. How do you ensure maximum defence power ? The earthworks should channel the attack over a long stretch where enemies provide target right environment to missiles, and where the attackers' unshielded right flank is exposed. This requires pretty detailled look at the entrance complexes, and their history (since they evolve).  
 

Hi All,
Sorry I've been absent for a few days. I'll try to repond to comments/questions over the past week or so, here.
 
Curious_Aardvark: by Wessex, I mean roughly Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, some of Somerset, and Berkshire. There are hillforts on the Ridgeway (Berkshire/Oxfordshire) that may be closer for you and others to visit, and there are several fairly close, so we could look at variations.  
 
Leadrocks: interesting comments about the throwing positions and ballistics, thanks. Although lead shot were used in some times/places, I don't think there's much evidence of a lot of them around British hillforts. (They'd be more obvious than the stones, of course, so maybe they'd get picked up in the Iron Age.) Caesar describes the Belgae using shiled to enable them to get close to the gates, after having pelted the defenders with stones first. In the earlier cases we're mainly talking about, an analysis by Michael Avery suggests that the slingers were first used in attack, causing the defenders to respond with rampart designs that gave them more height and time advantage and that the defenders then employed more missiles themselves - previously having relied on a couple of metrers height advantage in close combat. In terms of the rampart shape and size, the question is could you really get up a long steep slope with guys on the top pelting stones down it, and is that better for the defenders than a vertical but low (say 3-4m) wall?
 
David, Kentucky, Mauro: I already commented on pallisades. An experiment on whether they get in the way would be interesting. Of course, the earlier steep but lower ramparts were often faced with wood or stone, and the "face" could have continued above the top of the bank without a separate pallisade being needed.  
 
Mauro: thanks for the description of Conelle di Arcevia. It sounds like promontary forts and ridge-end forts here, except that I don't recall the convex-facing-out idea from anywhere, which is really interesting.
 
Kentucky and others: to some extent, I think the steep parts of the ramparts might be better if kept "clean". At least around a lot of Wessex, where they are chalk-faces. With no grass etc on them, they're still tricky to get up and the absence of bushes would mean no cover from sling stones (etc) from above. Some think they'd be kept like that to look impressive from a distance, too. The outer approaches migh tbe a different matter, especially where the topography allows a rush attack - hence, perhaps, the chevaux-de-frise.
 
Chuckrocks: thank you for the picture. But who is it? Avery, mentioned above, declines to distinguish missiles from slings, staff-slings, and simply chucked (if you pardon the expression) and probably all three were used, for different sizes of rock. Most of the stones found cached were smaller than the one shown, but not all.  
 
KT: the initial position of defence would depend, I think, on the nature of the attack. If a small raiding party just turned up, it would be different from a pre-arranged formal battle.  
 
Mauro: the British equivalent of the nuraghe would be the broch (also means nothing to English-speakers, but may in Gaelic).  
There's a picture of one at:  
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/mousa/mousabroch/index.html  
But if you search for "Mousa" "Dun Trodden" or "Dun Carloway" along with "broch" you'll find others. They're Iron Age but confined pretty much to Scotland.
 
Nemo: Yes, they used other weapons. In fact, the popular image of them is spear and sword and shield. It may be that the warrior types used those but when it came down to defended one's home and grain, everyone pitched in with slings. They also used horses and chariots, but of course not directly at hillforts.  
 
Nemo and David: I see I wrote about the difficulty of climbing the banks before I'd read your similar comments. Sorry.
 
Mauro: I think I must have missed the email you refer to. I'll look for it. By the end of this morning I intend to have replied to everything I have.
 
Rat Man and Bill: There is evidence of fire on the ramparts of a number of hillforts. (In addition to many gates.) The focus of the archaeologists has been on whether that was part of an attack, or of destruction that occurred after an attack had succeeded. Remember that the earlier ramparts were faced in wood. The view I read most recently is that fire wouldn't be much use against ramparts, so it was later destruction, and hillfort builders responded by just not using wood in the later period; they would have had a problem building very high ramparts with wooden walls anyway. I don't know of evidence of burning of unfaced ramparts, but it wouldn't leave much evidence after 2000 years anyway. (On a different slant, there are burnt stone defences, in Scotland in particular, where the theory is that they were fusing the stones into an impenetrable mass. They're called "vitrified forts".)  
 
Thearos: you encapsulate the questions very neatly; thanks. The answers may take longer!  
Maiden Castle is one of the extreme examples, so analysing it's defences may not tell us about the typical case. Wheeler, who first excavated (1943), suggested that the extra-large defences protected the interior from sling attack by keeping them out of range, especially heated shot that would set fire to thatch. Bowden and McOmish (1987) went there and decided the defences were too large to be practical, there was dead ground in the ditches and the outer ramparts were indefensible (i.e. the whole thing is just showing off). Reading that was what got me into all this. I think there's a good chance that we can work out tactics that make sense, especially by using the expertise of you experienced slingers, not just a) archaeologists and b) modern military analysis.  
 
David: interesting link. I've got Danebury books all over my desk, but the huge amount of detail often hides the picture!  
 
Everyone: It's time I organised a visit to look at two or three hillforts. Some of you have volunteered already, but finding a convenient date will be the challenge. I'm thinking of places not far from the M4 in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire. If you can make any of the following dates, please send me a message, and I will pick the one with most takers: Sat 25 Feb; Sun 26 Feb; Sat 3 March; Sun 4 March. In addition, if you can do non-weekend dates, let me know what date suits you. (The advantage being that there will be fewer other people around.)  
 
Pete  
 
   
   
 
 

In 1976, 11,000 slingstones were found at Danebury near the main gate. Other similar piles were found in excavations at the east gate. Other piles were located at strategic places.
 The thing is is that these had to have been imported. Danebury is mostly flint and chalk, the pebbles were water worn conglomerates.
The closest place to Danebury that has this type of stone  is in Harewood forest, 8 km away.
  This means that the inhabitants likely went to this area to get the right sized stones for slinging.

I suppose aswell having all loose rocks outside the gate wouldnt give any easy footing for moving in that area. If you are trying to run on loose material, you arent going to get anywhere near the same force behind you if you plan to pull down a gate (perhaps Im thinking the wrong type of gate, but its relevant to most form of combat anyway).
Are numbers of that size present in most forts, it seems a hell of a lot, even if we assume it is coming from both directions. Perhaps they werent even slingstones but just scree to take the wind out of the attackers.
 
Nemo

The visit is arranged for March 4. We'll look at two or three hillforts in the area south of the M4 near Swindon. They have different features, which may make them more or less suited to defence by slings. Anyone wishing to join in, please send me a PM or email. Pete

Hallo there,
I specialized on archaeological surface surveys at the university, and can tell you that there may be many reasons why you can't find evidence.
You already said three of them, and the fact that not all hillforts had similar defensive functions may be true too, but I cautiously disagree, for slinging was a common practice in pastoral contexts (as well as in nomadic ones) and I believe that throwing stones is one of the most used defensive tactics.
Or did you mean something different with defensive functions?
By the way, the most ancient sling bullets found in Italy are clay ones dating back to the Neolithic (5000 years bp more or less); we also have a topic here. Recognizing older bullets is only due to the archaeologist's eye, passion and experience!
 
Pete, I wish I could come! I wish you great fun and please, keep sharing your efforts!
Greetings,
Mauro.

Well my change of date was spot on
 
Sunday was wet, windy and thoroughly miserable.  
Tuesday on the other hand, was clear, bright, sunny and while not warm - the perfect temperature for climbing up and down hillforts.
 
Despite my programming my satnav incorrectly (mea culpa can't blame tomtom for this one) and my car phone choosing tuesday morning to die. I did eventually find pete, more by luck than judgement  
 
Had a very interesting afternoon. I think we both learnt a lot and hopefully it'll lead to some very interesting practical experiments in the future - for which we will need other slingers (we'll wait till your in country david  )
 
But, yep good day.  
 
I believe ths picture is on the outer earthwork at liddington.  
More pics and info later  
 
 

Thanks to C_A for a very useful visit to the two hillforts, Liddington Castle and Barbury Castle.  
 
It has firmed up a number of aspects of how I plan to conduct the experiment, as well as teaching me quite a number of new things about slinging, and confirming some others.  
I now have to write up my plan is considerable detail and get it approved, after which there will be a few trial runs and then I will be appealing for volunteer, so watch this space.  
 
The picture shows C_A seeing off a couple of Apaches that came within slinging range of Barbury Castle. (More pictures to follow.)

Hm: picture on my previous post didn't come out quite as intended . . . so I've tried putting a few photos and a couple of clips on YouTube. (First time I tried this, so fingers crossed.)
The links are below, or search for HillfortSlinging:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBSrL5aWyc8&feature=email
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_CZ5v-L3II&feature=email  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isH_DznT9ME&feature=email    
 
Pete

close up of the apaches.  
Just couldn't get my camera out of the bag in time.  
 

I'm now working on the detailed plan for the experiment, with much useful input from C_A being incorporated. Looks like I will have to be thorough with the Safety Plan, to meet the university requirements (as well as good sense, of course). Watch this space.
 
Pete

Just letting those of you who are interested know that just because this thread has gone quiet, it isn't dead. I've been working on my plan and a whole bunch of details (e.g. safety arrangements).  
 
But the main activity is to find the best site for the trials. This needs to be both a suitable hillfort and to be one where I can get permission from all concerned, which is a bit complicated. I'm in communication with English Heritage, the National Trust, Hampshire County Council Archaeology Service and also Museums Service. I've also been to around 20 sites since the visit with C_A. I've also has a chance to revew my proposals with several eminent archeaologists.  
 
The nett of all that is that I'm still working on it.  
 
Pete

Eh I was thinking about this post today!
Glad you're still with us, and still working on it!
Best wishes!
Mauro.

I talk to people who do lots of work on pre Columbian sites.  They can talk for hours about the status symbols, pottery, ground stone axes and pipes, religion and all sorts of mystical things.  Then, when you ask them what was used as sanitation, you get a blank look.  They had to have a very efficent way to dispose of their wastes, there is no evidence of the types of plagues that you get if you don't.  And, the NA didn't have very much immunity to the dieases that Europeans pretty much shrugged off.  Could that be the reason that they were not continousely occupied?  They would "fort up" for periods of time, maybe up to a couple of months, then leave to let the place air out and the weather break down everything?

C_A, ref your post of May 3. It appears from Caesar that in the very late Iron Age they did do the "completely surround the fort" tactic, in serious warfare, followed by burning the gates. My guess for other cases, though, is that the hillfort defences were enough to keep short-term raiders out for a while and that the limited water supply wasn't therefore too much of a problem. Some sites have ponds, and they could collect runoff rain from the thatches etc, but real dew ponds have puddled clay linings to keep the water in, so would have been found by archaeologists. Pete

Welcome back Pete!
Bureaucracy may be annoying but it's going to end sooner or later  
It's great to hear you again, I'm sure you'll find many volounteers! I'd love to be one of them if only I could reach Britain  
Greetings,
Mauro.

Weekend or midweek?  

I've now got permission from the National Trust to use their hill fort for the experiment. One of the conditions is that I finish by early April, for conservation reasons. I need a bit of time to get ready, so basically that means running the experiment in March.
 
So, if you are able to spend a few hours slinging at my target on a hill fort in Dorset, please let me know asap.  
 
The target is an adapted bit of golf kit - a driving practice net. We'll be slinging selected round pebbles at it from and to several positions on the ramparts. You have to be prepared to follow the experiment procedure, for scientific reasons and because of commitments I've made about safety (it's a public access place) but that should be part of the interest.  
 
So, please let me know soon. As I said before, if you need help with travel, let me know. (No, Mauro, not air fare from Italy.)
 
Pete

How about air fare from the US? Please?! (I'm only kind of joking.)

Quote from mile-end on Jan 15^th, 2013, 10:13am:

 
Darn!
I swear I'll begin looking for a cheap ticket! When are you going to do the experiment in March?? Have you choose a day already?
It's always good to read you  
Greetings,
Mauro.

Not March 29-31, but the other weekends should be okay.

Good times... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW912BD9gZM

Keep an eye out for the NE sling meet this year.  
 
I'm not entirely sure of the details, but it'll be awesome.  

Here's a Google Earth view. The Iron Age fort is the large, fairly rectangular set of ramparts on a contour close to the top of the flat hill. There's also a Roman fort, that you can see in the top left (north-west) corner of the IA one. The red line is the path from the car parking spot. The blue area is where the slinging will be.

Most image upload sites have an resizing option that you can use when you upload your picture.  
For example, http://imageshack.us/ and http://tinypic.com/
 
You could also use paint to resize your photo before you post it here.  
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Resize-a-picture-using-Paint

Looks like a good site. I can just imagine the hail you would meet if you popped your head over that outer rampart  
 
Was there a palisade wall on the inner rampart with a 'firing step' on the inside? This could greatly steepen the angle of shot you could get and eliminate the defilade at the base of the outer rampart. Should we take a step-ladder and see if we can see and sling parallel to the outer slope of the outer rampart?
 
[EDIT] Actually, looking at it again I'm not sure you could get high enough without a seriously big wall. Something we should definitely look at is slinging at an angle across the ramparts. I would set my defense as being a bunch of spearmen where the attack is going to reach the wall and position slingers on either side of them shooting at the attackers flanks while they try to fend off the spears with their shields.

We're about to start the experiment, BUT I STILL NEED ONE MORE VOLUNTEER! Surely there's one more slinger who can manage a day out in Dorset any day in the next few weeks! No? Oh well, back to the statistical drawing-board.
 
C_A and David will be leading the charge (defence, rather) on Friday and/or Saturday. The and/or is because we'll be dodging between showers, I think. I spent most of today weighing, sorting and painting sling stones. (The paint is because the National Trust requires me to find and remove them all. If I miss one, at least future archaeologists will know it's one of mine.)
 
I visited C_A for some trial runs last week. He only broke the target a bit . . . I've done some mending, but I'm not sure it will last the course. I also tweaked the procedures a bit and modified the Safety Plan also. I did a survey at Hod Hill (so there's now a profile, Mauro) and chose a slightly different line to sling along as a result.
 
So, after a year of planning and negotiating, I'm almost ready to go. Main issue is likely to be the weather - and that missing slinger!
 
Will let you know how we get on.
 
Pete  

Pete if I could get there from Portland Oregon I would sling until my fingers bled, but unfortunately I was born on the wrong continent for this wonderful experiment
 
For all you geographically lucky people, good luck and have fun! Pete put a lot of work into this and I bet it will be awesome!

Costa has not payed me yet, I can't afford the trip  
I wish you the best of fun, Mile I can't remember if you had found these pics I sent you of our hillforts useful...?
Greetings,
Mauro.

I will have my slo-mo video camera  

Huntsman, thanks!
Mauro, yes I think I found them interesting . . must go back for another look. Sorry you can't make it this time. (By the way, I'll be walking from Florence to Siena in May . . )  
I'll have a small camera there, but am intrigued to hear of David's camera.
We'll be slinging at a target, half the time it will be on the ramparts and half the time the slingers will be on the ramparts.
Weather looks poor tomorrow but OK on Saturday . . .