Excavations at a hillfort in Dorset have uncovered a series of low stone altars heavily stained with cinnabar and iron oxide. The ritual sites were active during the early Iron Age and were primarily used for ceremonies coinciding with the peak of the lambing season. The presence of young sheep remains and miniature woven charms suggests these were 'Spring-Birth' festivals intended to protect the flock and ensure the community's survival.
The use of bright red pigment—imported from the continent—indicates the high status of these rituals. Researchers argue that these ceremonies represent the precursors to the later 'May Queen' and pastoral fertility festivals that became staples of British rural heritage for centuries.