Having suggested this forum I suppose I'd better put in a post! If you read about Essex Hill forts you might not find Maldon listed among them - despite seeing Danbury, a much smaller place 5 miles away included. The reason for not finding Maldon listed is that archaeologists have not found any earthworks or fences positioned in the places they might expect for a conventional Hill Fort. Anyone studying this period of Essex prehistory is probably going to look at the Hill fort distribution as a starter. If they do then I think they might be missing out on the most important Essex site of all. I have seen early Iron Age sherds from practically every carefully dug hole right across the hill on which Maldon stands. This is one of the highest hills in Essex and what is more it overlooks one of the best landing places on the South East coast. In addition to sherds I have found small features, large features and fence lines dating to the period. The problem being "...they don't prove a Hill fort" Maldon has pretty good natural defence and there is no doubt to me that very many people lived on the hill 5th 6th century BC. It is possible that so many lived there at that time that it was the foremost Essex town - even before there were any towns ;) So archeologists please consider that possibility when thinking about Early Iron Age Essex.