Editing Dorking (section)

===Pre-history===
The earliest evidence of human activity in Dorking comes from the [[Mesolithic]] and [[Neolithic]] periods and includes [[stone tool|flint tools]] and [[flake tool|flakes]] found during construction development in South Street.<ref name=SouthSt1>{{cite web |url=https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/land-at-rear-of-72-82-south-street-dorking |title=Land at rear of 72–82 South Street, Dorking |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2010 |publisher=Surrey Archaeological Society |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102101919/https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/land-at-rear-of-72-82-south-street-dorking |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=SouthSt2>{{cite web |url=https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/land-at-rear-of-72-82-south-street-dorking-0 |title=Land at rear of 72–82 South Street, Dorking |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2012 |publisher=Surrey Archaeological Society |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102101919/https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/land-at-rear-of-72-82-south-street-dorking-0 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=HER_Waitrose>{{cite web |url=https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/waitrose-south-street-dorking |title=Waitrose, South Street, Dorking |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2014 |publisher=Surrey Archaeological Society |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102101920/https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/waitrose-south-street-dorking |url-status=live}}</ref> During the rebuilding of the [[Waitrose]] supermarket in South Street in 2013, charred [[hazelnut]] shells, [[radiocarbon dating|radiocarbon dated]] to between 8625 and 8465 [[Common Era|BCE]], were discovered.<ref name=RingDitch>{{cite web |url=https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/archaeology/archaeological-unit/spoilheap-publications/bronze-age-ring-ditch |title=A Bronze Age ring-ditch discovered at Waitrose site, Dorking |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2016 |publisher=Surrey County Council |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102101920/https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/archaeology/archaeological-unit/spoilheap-publications/bronze-age-ring-ditch |url-status=live}}</ref> A [[ring ditch]] containing two ceramic [[Urn#Cremation urns|urns]], was also found.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/1028768-2/ |title=An Exciting Excavation in South Street, Dorking |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2016 |publisher=Exploring Surrey's Past |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=16 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716005444/http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/1028768-2/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Other ditches identified during the same excavation may indicate the presence of a [[Bronze Age Britain|Bronze Age]] [[field system]], although the date of these later earthworks is less certain.<ref name=RingDitch/> Bowl barrows from the same period have been found at the Glory Wood (to the south of the town centre),<ref name=NHLE_Glory_Wood_bowl_barrow/> on Milton Heath (to the west)<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1007882 |desc=Bowl barrow on Milton Heath|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> and on Box Hill (to the northeast).<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1007888|desc=Bowl barrow on Box Hill, 250m north-west of Boxhurst|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1007889|desc=Bowl barrow on Box Hill, 230m west of Upper Farm Bungalow|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>{{refn|No evidence of [[Iron Age]] settlement activity has been found in the town centre, however the nearby [[Hillforts in Britain#Iron Age hillforts|hillforts]] at Anstiebury (Leith Hill)<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1007891|desc=Anstiebury Camp: a large multivallate hillfort south-east of Crockers Farm|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Hayman |first=H |year=2008 |title=Archaeological excavations at Anstiebury Camp hillfort, Coldharbour, in 1989 and 1991 |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_94/surreyac094_191-207_hayman.pdf |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |volume=94 |pages=191–207 |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102101922/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fvol_94%2Fsurreyac094_191-207_hayman.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Holmbury Hill]]<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1013183|desc=Holmbury Camp: a small multivallate hillfort north of Three Mile Road|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/5564840 |title=Holmbury Hillfort: An archaeological survey |last1=Hooker |first1=R |last2=English |first2=J |date=2008 |publisher=Surrey Archaeological Society |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102101933/https://www.academia.edu/5564840/Archaeological_survey_of_Holmbury_Hillfort_Surrey |url-status=live}}</ref> date from the first century BC.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Thomas |first=MS |year=2010 |title=A re-contextualisation of the prehistoric pottery from the Surrey hillforts of Hascombe, Holmbury and Anstiebury |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-379-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_95/surreyac095_001-033_seager-thomas.pdf |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |volume=95 |pages=1–33 |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102101938/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-379-1%2Fdissemination%2Fpdf%2Fvol_95%2Fsurreyac095_001-033_seager-thomas.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Traces of an Iron Age field system and settlement activity have been observed on [[Mickleham, Surrey#Mickleham Downs|Mickleham Downs]] (about {{cvt|2|mi|km|0}} northeast of Dorking).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/having-a-field-day-with-lidar-in-the-surrey-her/ |title=Having a field day with Lidar in the Surrey HER |last=Salkeld |first=E |date=28 February 2020 |publisher=Exploring Surrey's Past |access-date=25 September 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024120937/https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/having-a-field-day-with-lidar-in-the-surrey-her/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Hogg |first=I |year=2019 |title=Activity within the prehistoric landscape of the Surrey chalk downland, Cherkley Court, Leatherhead |journal=Surrey Archaeological Collections |volume=102 |pages=103–129}}</ref>|group=note}}