Highbury Hill in Clutton, Somerset, England is the site of the earthwork remains of an Iron Ageunivallate hillfort. It occupies an area of woodland at the end of a narrow ridge. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, meaning that it is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.[1]
The 3 hectares (7.4 acres) site lies in an area of woodland at the south eastern end of a narrow ridge with steep slopes around it. There is a 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) outer bank which is 8 metres (26 ft) long with a shallow 8 metres (26 ft) wide ditch.[1]
3D view of the digital terrain model
Some Roman silver coins were found at the site in the late 18th century.[1]
Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, roughly the start of the first millennium BC.[2] 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.[3] 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".[4]
^ abcd. National Monuments Record. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
^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
highbury, hill, clutton, highbury, hill, clutton, somerset, england, site, earthwork, remains, iron, univallate, hillfort, occupies, area, woodland, narrow, ridge, scheduled, ancient, monument, meaning, that, nationally, important, archaeological, site, histor. Highbury Hill in Clutton Somerset England is the site of the earthwork remains of an Iron Age univallate hillfort It occupies an area of woodland at the end of a narrow ridge It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument meaning that it is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building given protection against unauthorised change 1 Highbury HillLocation of Highbury Hill in SomersetLocationClutton Somerset EnglandCoordinates51 19 12 N 2 31 32 W 51 32000 N 2 52556 W 51 32000 2 52556 Coordinates 51 19 12 N 2 31 32 W 51 32000 N 2 52556 W 51 32000 2 52556Area3 hectares 7 4 acres BuiltIron AgeScheduled monumentReference no 200574 1 The 3 hectares 7 4 acres site lies in an area of woodland at the south eastern end of a narrow ridge with steep slopes around it There is a 0 5 metres 1 6 ft outer bank which is 8 metres 26 ft long with a shallow 8 metres 26 ft wide ditch 1 3D view of the digital terrain model Some Roman silver coins were found at the site in the late 18th century 1 Background EditFurther information Hill fort Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age roughly the start of the first millennium BC 2 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 3 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 4 See also EditList of hill forts and ancient settlements in SomersetReferences Edit a b c d Highbury Hill National Monuments Record English Heritage Archived from the original on 2 October 2012 Retrieved 6 March 2011 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 Highbury Hill Clutton amp oldid 1084575581, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
