Great Britain Hillfort

the ramparts of multivallate british camp in herefordshire



dinas dinlle, wales

the reason emergence of hill forts in britain, , purpose, has been subject of debate. has been argued have been military sites constructed in response invasion continental europe, sites built invaders, or military reaction social tensions caused increasing population , consequent pressure on agriculture. dominant view since 1960s has been increasing use of iron led social changes in britain. deposits of iron ore located in different places tin , copper ore necessary make bronze, , result trading patterns shifted , old elites lost economic , social status. power passed hands of new group of people. archaeologist barry cunliffe believes population increase still played role , has stated [the forts] provided defensive possibilities community @ times when stress [of increasing population] burst out open warfare. wouldn t see them having been built because there state of war. functional defensive strongholds when there tensions , undoubtedly of them attacked , destroyed, not only, or significant, factor in construction .

hill forts in britain known bronze age, great period of hill fort construction during iron age, between 700 bc , roman conquest of britain in 43 ad. romans occupied forts, such military garrison @ hod hill, , temple @ brean down, others destroyed , abandoned. partially articulated remains of between 28 , 40 men, women , children @ cadbury castle thought excavator implicate cadbury population in revolt in 70s ad (roughly contemporary of boudicca in east of england), although has been questioned subsequent researchers. however, presence of barracks on hilltop in decades following conquest suggest ongoing struggle suppress local dissent.

maiden castle in dorset largest hill fort in england. roman influence less strong, such uninvaded ireland , unsubdued northern scotland, hill forts still built , used several more centuries.

there on 2,000 iron age hillforts known in britain of 600 in wales. danebury in hampshire, thoroughly investigated iron age hillfort in britain, extensively published.

cadbury castle, somerset largest amongst forts reoccupied following end of roman rule, defend against pirate raids, , anglo-saxon invasions. cemetery outside poundbury hill contains east-facing christian burials of 4th century. wansdyke new linear earthwork connected existing hill fort @ maes knoll, defined celtic-saxon border in south-west england during period 577–652 ad.

some hill forts re-occupied anglo-saxons during period of viking raids. king alfred established network of coastal hill forts , lookout posts in wessex, linked herepath, or military road, enabled armies cover viking movements @ sea. example, see daw s castle , battle of cynwit.

it has been suggested on reasonable evidence many so-called hill forts used pen in cattle, horses, or other domesticated animals. large sprawling examples @ bindon hill , bathampton down more 50 acres (20 ha). defensive settlements in iron age used coralling animals in later periods. example, see coney s castle, dolebury warren , pilsdon pen. however, difficult prove people did not dwell there, lack of evidence not proof of absence.