Defended settlement on Aughton Down, 450m north of Croft Barn

Reasons for Designation

During the Iron Age a variety of different types of settlement were constructed and occupied in south-western England. At the top of the settlement hierarchy were hillforts built in prominent locations. In addition to these a group of smaller sites, known as defended settlements, were also constructed. Some of these were located on hilltops, others in less prominent positions. They are generally smaller than the hillforts, sometimes with an enclosed area of less than 1ha. The enclosing defences were of earthen construction. Univallate sites have a single bank and ditch, multivallate sites more than one. At some sites these earthen ramparts represent a second phase of defence, the first having been a timber fence or palisade. Where excavated, evidence of stone- or timber-built houses has been found within the enclosures, which, in contrast to the hillfort sites, would have been occupied by small communities, perhaps no more than a single family group. Defended settlements are a rare monument type. They were an important element of the settlement pattern, particularly in the upland areas of south-western England, and are integral to any study of the developing use of fortified settlements during this period. All well-preserved examples are likely to be identified as nationally important.

Despite some cultivation erosion, the defended settlement on Aughton Down is a comparatively well preserved example of its class and will contain archaeological and environmental remains relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.

Details

The monument includes an Iron Age defended settlement situated on the upper slopes of Aughton Down, on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain. The monument has a level sub-triangular interior with a maximum diameter of 70m and is surrounded by an inner bank, a ditch and an outer bank. These survive best on the north and west sides where the ditch is up to 7m wide and 1.2m deep and the banks survive to a height of approximately 0.25m and are up to 3m wide. On the east side, although still visible, the defences have been reduced in height by past cultivation. There is an entrance on the west side, near the north west angle, where a causeway crosses the ditch. Despite its elevated location, near the top of the down, the monument does not occupy a strong naturally defensive position. Sherds of both Iron Age and Romano-British pottery have been recovered from the monument. The fence line on the northern side of the monument and the partridge pens in the north east corner are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.

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:

31193

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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