Summary
The monument includes an Iron Age hillslope enclosure on an east-facing slope within Timberscombe Wood.
Reasons for Designation
The Iron Age the hillslope enclosure in Timberscombe Wood, 155m west of Brougham Farm, Timberscombe, is scheduled for the following principal reasons:
* Survival: despite some disturbance from previous forestry operations, it survives particularly well, with upstanding earthworks and buried remains;
* Potential: it will contain archaeological information which will contribute to our understanding and knowledge of Iron Age communities and environmental information about the surrounding landscape;
* Period: as one of a relatively limited number of sites characteristic of the Iron Age on Exmoor;
* Documentation: archaeological surveys have increased our understanding of the monument and its significance;
* Group value: it is one of a group of diverse and broadly contemporary monuments which give an indication of the nature of settlement and social organisation of the area during the later prehistoric period.
History
During the Iron Age a variety of different types of settlement, of varying size and form, were constructed and occupied, from single farmsteads up to large semi-urban oppida. Among those found in south-west England are hillslope enclosures which have been described (Riley and Wilson-North, see Sources) as the main body of evidence for the Iron Age on Exmoor. Despite their name, they occur on every type of ground, although typically on sheltered valley sides. They appear to have been built for various purposes, with some more defensive than others. Most seem to have been small settlements, occupied by small communities, perhaps by no more than a single family group, though some may have been used for livestock. Evidence of domestic occupation, such as building platforms and hut circles, has been identified at a number of hillslope enclosures and in some cases, where archaeological excavations have taken place, the remains of stone- or timber-built houses have been found.
The sub-rectangular enclosure in Timberscombe Wood, south-east of the village of Timberscombe, was first identified in 1992 and surveyed in 1995 (RCHME, see Sources). It is an Iron Age hillslope enclosure that appears to probably have at least two phases of construction. Following the discovery of surface finds of iron-smithing slag in the late 1990s, soil geochemical analysis (Carrey, see Sources) and a gradiometer survey (Substrata Ltd) were carried out. Although the evidence was not conclusive, areas of heated material and possible iron-rich deposits were identified and interpreted as an indication that iron-working activities could have taken place within the enclosure.
The site was purchased by Exmoor National Park in 2004. It is visible on aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme project in 2008.
Details
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: the monument includes the earthworks and buried remains of a late prehistoric hillslope enclosure situated on an east-facing slope within Timberscombe Wood, a small coniferous plantation. It is considered to be Iron Age in date.
DESCRIPTION: the enclosure is sub-rectangular on plan with rounded corners and is defined by a ditch to the north-west and south-west and, where the ground falls away to the south-east and north-east, the natural slope has been enhanced to form sharp scarps. The ditch has partly silted and measures some 5m wide and up to 1.2m deep. An internal bank, which has been reduced and spread by former forestry operations, is visible along much of the north-west and south-west sides of the enclosure. At the eastern end of the north-west side is a 20m length of outer bank that is approximately 4m wide and 0.9m high. There has been some slippage on the steeper parts of the earthworks and some evidence of dumping, probably relating to the previous forestry operations, mainly on the north-east side. A single entrance has been identified through the earthworks on the north-west side of the enclosure and it appears to align with a hollow way that extends some 30m into the interior. Several further breaks are evident elsewhere and most likely relate to later forestry activities. The interior is approximately 0.4ha square. Two rectangular sub-enclosures of unequal sizes occupy the north-western third to either side of the hollow way. The larger of the two, which may pre-date the main enclosure (RCHME), is defined by the remains of a low stone or masonry wall (Substrata, 2004), has an entrance at its north end and appears to contain structures within it. Evidence for heated and possible iron-rich deposits has been identified in the second, smaller sub-enclosure but no evidence of furnaces or smithing hearths has been located (Substrata Ltd). No features are evident within the remainder of the interior.
EXTENT OF SCHEDULING: the monument boundary has been drawn to include the known extent of the hillslope enclosure. To the north-east, north-west and south-west it includes a 2m margin for the support and protection of the monument, while along the south-east side of the enclosure the monument boundary follows the northern edge of the road which defines its extent of in this area.
EXCLUSIONS: there are no exclusions to the monument.
