Berrow Hill Camp

Summary

Hillfort known as Berrow Hill Camp, 490m south-west of Berrow Farm.

Reasons for Designation

Large univallate hillforts are defined as fortified enclosures of varying shape, ranging in size between 1ha and 10ha, located on hilltops and surrounded by a single boundary comprising earthworks of massive proportions. They date to the Iron Age period, most having been constructed and used between the fourth century BC and the first century AD, although evidence for earlier use is present at most sites. The size of the earthworks reflects the ability of certain social groups to mobilise the labour necessary for works on such a monumental scale, and their function may have had as much to do with display as defence. Large univallate hillforts are also seen as centres of redistribution, both for subsistence products and items produced by craftsmen. The ramparts are of massive proportions except in locations where steepness of slope precludes easy access. They can vary between 6m and 20m wide and may survive to a height of 6m. The ditches can measure between 6m and 13m wide and between 3m and 5m deep. Access to the interior is generally provided by one or two entrances which often take the form of long passages formed by inturned ramparts and originally closed by a gate located towards the inner end of the passageway. The entrance may be flanked by guardrooms and/or accompanied by outworks. Internal features included timber or stone round houses; large storage pits and hearths; scattered postholes, stakeholes and gullies; and square or rectangular buildings supported by four to six posts, often represented by postholes, and interpreted as raised granaries. In view of the rarity of large univallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the organisation and regional structure of Iron Age society, all examples with surviving archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance. Despite damage from quarrying, partial afforestation, tracks and the erection of fence poles, the hillfort known as Berrow Hill Camp survives comparatively well with substantial earthworks. The hillfort is of considerable significance and is a rare example of a multi entrance univallate hillfort. The hillfort 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 20 May 2015. This 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. As such they do not yet have the full descriptions of their modernised counterparts available. Please contact us if you would like further information.

This monument includes a large univallate hillfort situated in a commanding position on a steep sided hill overlooking the River Teme. The monument survives as an irregular elongated hillfort enclosure with a modified escarpment encompassing the top of the hill. The hillfort is orientated north east to south west and is up to 355m long and 155m wide tapering in the centre. The north, north eastern and southern sides are defined by a counterscarp rampart bank up to 1.2m high. The remaining sides are defined by an earthen rampart up to 5.8m high on top of the natural escarpment. The hillfort has a large gap approximately 56m long on the south eastern side of the bank and an entrance gap at the south eastern corner and an inturned entrance gap on the western side.

Further archaeological features survive in 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:

WT 235

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Sources

Other
Pastscape Monument No:- 113954

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