King's Castle is an Iron Ageenclosed hilltop settlement at the south-western edge of the Mendip Hills near Wells in Somerset, England. Though there are many prehistoric sites in the surrounding area, it remains one of the earliest known settlements in the immediate vicinity of Wells, and may have been a precursor to the present day city.[3] It consists of two or three interlinked sub-enclosures, with what appears to be a field system extending to the east; an unusual layout, the site remains relatively little studied and has not been archaeologically excavated.[3][4] It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and shares its name with the surrounding King's Castle Wood—today a Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserve—though this name is probably a modern invention.[4][5][6]
Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, roughly the start of the first millennium BC.[7] The reason for their emergence in Britain, and their purpose, has been a subject of debate. It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe, sites built by invaders, or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture. The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain. Deposits of iron ore were located in different places to the tin and copper ore necessary to make bronze, and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status. Power passed into the hands of a new group of people.[8] Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe believes that population increase still played a role and has stated "[the forts] provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress [of an increasing population] burst out into open warfare. But I wouldn't see them as having been built because there was a state of war. They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed, but this was not the only, or even the most significant, factor in their construction".[9]
^"King's Castle enclosures, iron age defended settlement, Wells". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. September 1985. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
^ abGathercole, Clare (2003). (PDF). Somerset Extensive Urban Survey. Somerset County Council. pp. 3–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
^ abPyne, William. "An Iron Age Hamlet at King's Castle". Academia.edu. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
^Historic England. "Kings Castle (196844)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 29 April 2014.
^Payne, Andrew; Corney, Mark; Cunliffe, Barry (2007), The Wessex Hillforts Project: Extensive Survey of Hillfort Interiors in Central Southern England, English Heritage, p. 1, ISBN978-1-873592-85-4
^Sharples, Niall M (1991), English Heritage Book of Maiden Castle, London: B. T. Batsford, pp. 71–72, ISBN0-7134-6083-0
^Time Team: Swords, skulls and strongholds, Channel 4, 19 May 2008, retrieved 16 September 2009
March 03, 2023
king, castle, wells, confused, with, king, castle, wiveliscombe, king, castle, iron, enclosed, hilltop, settlement, south, western, edge, mendip, hills, near, wells, somerset, england, though, there, many, prehistoric, sites, surrounding, area, remains, earlie. Not to be confused with King s Castle Wiveliscombe King s Castle is an Iron Age enclosed hilltop settlement at the south western edge of the Mendip Hills near Wells in Somerset England Though there are many prehistoric sites in the surrounding area it remains one of the earliest known settlements in the immediate vicinity of Wells and may have been a precursor to the present day city 3 It consists of two or three interlinked sub enclosures with what appears to be a field system extending to the east an unusual layout the site remains relatively little studied and has not been archaeologically excavated 3 4 It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and shares its name with the surrounding King s Castle Wood today a Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserve though this name is probably a modern invention 4 5 6 King s CastleLidar digital terrain model of King s CastleLocationMendip Hills Somerset EnglandNearest cityWellsCoordinates51 12 30 N 2 37 09 W 51 2084 N 2 6191 W 51 2084 2 6191 Coordinates 51 12 30 N 2 37 09 W 51 2084 N 2 6191 W 51 2084 2 6191OS grid referenceST5688245641Area1 02 hectares 2 5 acres two main enclosures combined 1 BuiltIron AgeGoverning bodyEnglish HeritageScheduled monumentOfficial nameKing s Castle enclosures Iron Age defended settlementDesignated30 May 1958 2 Reference no 1008807Location of King s Castle in SomersetBackground EditFurther information Hill fort Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age roughly the start of the first millennium BC 7 The reason for their emergence in Britain and their purpose has been a subject of debate It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe sites built by invaders or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain Deposits of iron ore were located in different places to the tin and copper ore necessary to make bronze and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status Power passed into the hands of a new group of people 8 Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe believes that population increase still played a role and has stated the forts provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress of an increasing population burst out into open warfare But I wouldn t see them as having been built because there was a state of war They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed but this was not the only or even the most significant factor in their construction 9 See also EditList of hill forts and ancient settlements in SomersetReferences Edit King s Castle enclosures iron age defended settlement Wells Somerset Historic Environment Record Somerset County Council September 1985 Retrieved 30 April 2014 Historic England King s Castle enclosures Iron Age defended settlement 1008807 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 29 April 2014 a b Gathercole Clare 2003 An Archaeological Assessment of Wells PDF Somerset Extensive Urban Survey Somerset County Council pp 3 6 Archived from the original PDF on 29 April 2014 Retrieved 29 April 2014 a b Pyne William An Iron Age Hamlet at King s Castle Academia edu Retrieved 29 April 2014 Historic England Kings Castle 196844 Research records formerly PastScape Retrieved 29 April 2014 King s Castle Wood Nature Reserve Somerset Wildlife Trust Retrieved 29 April 2014 Payne Andrew Corney Mark Cunliffe Barry 2007 The Wessex Hillforts Project Extensive Survey of Hillfort Interiors in Central Southern England English Heritage p 1 ISBN 978 1 873592 85 4 Sharples Niall M 1991 English Heritage Book of Maiden Castle London B T Batsford pp 71 72 ISBN 0 7134 6083 0 Time Team Swords skulls and strongholds Channel 4 19 May 2008 retrieved 16 September 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title King 27s Castle Wells amp oldid 1084575544, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
