Reasons for Designation
The size and form of Iron Age enclosed settlements vary considerably from
single farmsteads up to large semi-urban oppida. Farmsteads are generally
represented by curvilinear enclosures containing evidence of a small group of
circular domestic buildings and associated agricultural structures. Where
excavated, these sites are also found to contain storage pits for grain and
other produce, evidence of an organised and efficient farming system. The
surrounding enclosures would have provided protection against cattle rustling
and tribal raiding.
In central southern England, most enclosed Iron Age farmsteads are situated in
areas which are now under intensive arable cultivation. As a result, although
some examples survive with upstanding earthworks, the majority have been
recorded as crop- and soil-marks appearing on aerial photographs.
Details
The monument includes a slightly oval Iron Age enclosure and associated
features situated 600m north west of North Farm on a gentle south facing slope
of Overton Hill overlooking the River Kennet.
Although the enclosure has been levelled by cultivation, it is visible at
ground level as a soil mark when the fields are newly ploughed. The site is
best seen, however, on aerial photographs which show a bank and ditch
enclosing a roughly circular area 110m east-west by 130m north-south. The
ditch and bank are interrupted by an entrance to the north west and adjoining
this are associated 'antennae' formed by a pair of ditches which run north
west for c.80m beyond the enclosure. It is likely that these represent
boundaries designed to act as a funnel for the purpose of herding stock into
the enclosure. Within the enclosure there are numerous features which
represent storage pits and associated structures relating to the occupation of
the site.
Excluded from the scheduling is the boundary fence which runs north-south
through the middle of the area of the scheduling, but the ground beneath this
fence is included in the scheduling.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21763
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
