Smythapark hillfort

Summary

Slight univallate hillfort with outworks 560m north of Bratton Mills.

Reasons for Designation

Slight univallate hillforts are defined as enclosures of various shapes, generally between 1ha and 10ha in size, situated on or close to hilltops and defined by a single line of earthworks, the scale of which is relatively small. They date to between the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (eighth - fifth centuries BC), the majority being used for 150 to 200 years prior to their abandonment or reconstruction. Slight univallate hillforts have generally been interpreted as stock enclosures, redistribution centres, places of refuge and permanent settlements. The earthworks generally include a rampart, narrow level berm, external ditch and counterscarp bank. More complex features like outworks occur only occasionally. Slight univallate hillforts are rare nationally, although in Devon they comprise one of the major classes of hillfort. They are important for understanding the transition between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities.

Despite reduction in the heights of the ramparts and some disturbance of the interior through cultivation the hillfort 560m north of Bratton Mills survives comparatively well and it will contain important archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, use and landscape context.

History

See Details.

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 3 November 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.

The monument includes a slight univallate hillfort with outworks situated on an upland spur forming the side of the valley of the River Yeo. The hillfort survives as a small oval inner enclosure defined by a rampart and ditch, with outworks to the west in the form an irregular shaped outer enclosure measuring 245m long by 210m wide internally formed by a rampart with ditch which surrounds the inner enclosure and extends to the north west. Bisecting this outer enclosure is a further partial rampart and ditch.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

DV 412

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 34574

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