The Hengistbury Head site is archaeologically important and has been used by mankind for a long time stretching from the Paleolithic[4] to the present day where the site is visited by over a million people a year.[5] Warren Hill has a variety of remains and features dating from around 10,000 BC[6] until Roman times.[7] The hill's commanding view of the surroundings, coupled with an array of varied habitats nearby, provide the area with qualities appealing to both prehistoric and modern man.[8]
Ploughing of Warren Hill in 1913 revealed thousands of flint implements covering the entire Stone Age period.[9] Of particular archaeological interest were several blades rarely seen in the UK outside of caves; such blades are typically found at Upper Paleolithic sites across Europe, but open-air UK sites of such age are extremely rare.[6] Further excavations identified over 600 tools, dominated by backed blades, endscrapers and burins.[1] There are several barrow mounds on the hill that have been investigated previously, as well as traces of small defensive trenches from the Second World War.[4][10] Much of the Head has been lost over the years due to the effects of sea, weather, and the removal of many "doggers" (ironstone boulders),[11] causing the loss of several bloomery hearths and a Mesolithic campsite.[10]
Meadow pipit and skylark thrive there. There are typically five breeding pairs of skylark and nine pairs of meadow pipit as well as three pairs of Dartford warbler.[10] The area is home to the nocturnal violet ground beetle, and the powerful daytime predator, the green tiger beetle.[12] Along with spiders, the beetles of Warren Hill provide visiting birds with a regular source of food. Exposed sandy areas attract burrowing sand wasps and other mining species such as the nationally scarce nomad bee, the large velvet ant and the cuckoo bee.[10] The adder and the common lizard also have established populations up on the hill.