Burridge Camp

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, while access to the interior is usually provided by two entrances comprising either simple gaps in the earthwork or an inturned rampart. Postholes revealed by excavation indicate the occasional presence of portal gateways while more elaborate features like overlapping ramparts and outworks are limited to only a few examples. 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. Slight univallate hillforts are rare with around 150 examples recorded nationally. Although on a national scale the number is low, in Devon they comprise one of the major classes of hillfort. In other areas where the distribution is relatively dense, for example, Wessex, Sussex, the Cotswolds and the Chilterns, hillforts belonging to a number of different classes occur within the same region. Examples are also recorded in eastern England, the Welsh Marches, central and southern England. In view of the rarity of slight univallate hillforts and their importance in understanding the transition between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities, all examples which survive comparatively well and have potential for the recovery of further archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance.

Despite later reuse of the area, Burridge Camp survives well and contains archaeological and environmental information relating to the settlement and exploitation of this area during the Iron Age.

Details

This monument includes an Iron Age slight univallate hillfort situated on a hilltop overlooking the valley of the Little Dart River. The monument survives as an oval enclosure with a single rampart and ditch. There is a triangular extension to the earthwork which runs into neighbouring fields to the north east and evidence for a simple entrance on the south eastern side of the enclosure. Topographically, the whole site slopes down towards the north west. Internally, the enclosure measures 91.5m long from north east to south west and 79.8m wide from north west to south east. There are slight surface undulations within the enclosure. The rampart varies in width from 0.2m in the north west up to 4.4m wide to the south east; on average it attains a width of 2.2m. The internal height of the rampart varies from 0.3m to 1.32m. The external height of the rampart varies from 0.9 to 1.7m. The rampart survives less well to the north west, but this may be a result of the prevailing slope in this direction causing the rampart to be largely preserved as a buried feature. Beyond the rampart lies the outer ditch from which material to construct the rampart was obtained. This varies in width from 3.2m up to 4.7m and in depth from 0.7m to 1.35m. Part of the ditch to the north has been reused as a road and this has produced a hollow way. This measures 4.15m wide and is up to 1.35m deep. The original entrance to the enclosure lies on the south eastern side. Here curving stone banks up to 10m long, 2.2m wide and 0.6m high define the entrance. There is also an entrance to the north west measuring 3.05m wide which has produced a small bank across the ditch, but this is not likely to be the original entrance. Another cuts the rampart to the south east and is 3.55m wide and was used to facilitate entry to the enclosure from the farm. To the north east of the enclosure is a triangular raised earthwork, in part overlain by field boundaries, which continues into two fields beyond the enclosure. This measures 49.2m long by 19.4m wide and is 0.8m to 1m high. A field boundary partly overlies the rampart and ditch on the eastern side of the enclosure. To the NNE there is stony bank running approximately east to west, parallel to the rampart and ditch. This measures 1.2m wide and 0.5m high. It is cut by the track to the west and overlain by a field boundary to the east and may represent an outer rampart.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

28617

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
MPP fieldwork by H. Gerrard, (1995)
Devon County Sites and Monuments Register, SS71SW6, (1987)

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