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. Coastal situations, using headlands defined by
steep natural cliffs, are common while inland similar topographic settings
defined by natural cliffs are also used. 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, together with the remains of buildings
used for storage and enclosures for animals. 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 broadly contemporary with
other types of hillfort. 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. Promontory forts are rare nationally with less than 100 recorded
examples. 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.
Details
The monument includes an earthwork rampart and ditch of what is believed to be
an unfinished Iron Age promontory fort lying partially across the narrow point
of a long steep-sided spur which runs north east-south west on the chalk
downland hills of the Isle of Wight.
The rampart stands to c.3m high and is c.85m long and 5m wide on top. The
total width of the rampart base is c.18m. On the south west side is a
ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the rampart.
This ditch can be seen as a slight depression 18m wide and c.0.5m to 0.7m
deep.
The top of the rampart is sunken in places giving it the appearance of
separate mounds, hence the monument being called `Five Barrows' on old maps.
Six sherds of pottery, thought to be Romano-British, were found in 1952 by
Professor Hawkes in a ploughed field south west of the rampart. A flint
scraper has also been found in the vicinity of the monument.
The post and wire fences to the south and east sides of the monument are
excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
22029
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
