Archaeology
It is likely that Neolithic peoples began clearance of parts of the natural woodland cover of the National Park area between 4000 and 2500BC. The first human impact on the landscape took place during the Bronze Age, and by about 1000BC there were settled communities.
The distinctive archaeology of the New Forest National Park mostly relates to agriculture and modest industrial processes, which have survived here better than in more developed areas.
These are often in the form of earth works such as barrows, small hill-top forts, boundary banks, ditches, field systems and animal enclosures. The sites of royal hunting lodges have been discovered and there is evidence of old clay pits, charcoal burning and salt production on the coast. Some 250 burial mounds still exist in the area.
While the New Forest National Park does not boast Roman villas or stone circles, there have been smaller finds such as a Bronze Age axe hoard found near Burley in 1926 and traces of what some believe were Roman roads near Fawley and Stoney Cross.
There are more than 630 listed buildings, and 61 scheduled ancient monuments within the National Park. There are also seven historic parks and gardens on the English Heritage register within the Park
During modern times the New Forest was also home to several airfields in World War 2
The Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society and The New Forest Centre, have a wealth of information on the archaeology of the New Forest, including extensive databases.
New Forest Centre
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society
