 It is possible that the fort originated as a temporary camp during the campaign against nearby Pilsdon Pen, where two Roman ballista bolts have been found.First recognition of the site came when 19th century quarrying uncovered military artefacts from the 1st century AD.The site was investigated by Graham Webster in a series of archaeological excavations starting in 1959, which revealed the full layout of the camp, except for some small areas destroyed by the quarrying.