Eaton Camp

Summary

Promontory fort known as Eaton Camp, 960m south west of Crinkham Cottage.

Reasons for Designation

Promontory forts are a type of hillfort in which conspicuous naturally defended sites are adapted as enclosures by the construction of one or more earth or stone ramparts placed across the neck of a spur in order to divide it from the surrounding land. The ramparts and accompanying ditches formed the main artificial defence, but timber palisades may have been erected along the cliff edges. Access to the interior was generally provided by an entrance through the ramparts. The interior of the fort was used intensively for settlement and related activities, and evidence for timber- and stone- walled round houses can be expected. Promontory forts are generally Iron Age in date, most having been constructed and used between the sixth century BC and the mid-first century AD. They are regarded as settlements of high status, probably occupied on a permanent basis, and recent interpretations suggest that their construction and choice of location had as much to do with display as defence. In view of their rarity and their importance in the understanding of the nature of social organisation in the later prehistoric period, all examples with surviving archaeological remains are considered nationally important.

Despite excavation, site clearance, partial ploughing and the crossing of pathways and fences, the promontory hillfort known as Eaton Camp survives comparatively well. The hillfort and mound will contain important archaeological information relating to the use, construction and occupation of the monument in addition to providing environmental evidence.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 18 May 2015. The record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument includes the remains of a promontory hillfort situated in a commanding position on a slightly sloping spur overlooking the confluence of Cage Brook and the River Wye. The monument survives as the visible earthworks and buried features of a promontory hillfort and a mound. The hillfort enclosure is sub triangular in plan approximately 500m long by 290m wide with rounded corners and an inturned entrance gap in the north western angle and some modern breaches. The hillfort is defined by a natural steep slope on the northern and south eastern sides and by a double rampart and ditch around the remainder of the hillfort. The rampart banks are divided by a ditch with the outer rampart bank being up to 3.3m high and the inner up to 5m high. At the eastern apex of the hillfort is a mound measuring approximately 10m in diameter that has some loose foundation stones at the top and at the base.

Further archaeological remains survive within the vicinity of the monument, but are not currently protected because they have not been formally assessed.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

HE 10

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 107794, Herefordshire SMR:- 907, NMR Events:- 655829, 1185426 & 1337399, NMR:- SO 43 NE 14

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