Summary

Slight univallate hillfort with outwork 290m north and 640m north east of Roborough Farmhouse.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 3 November 2015. The record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The scheduling, which falls into two separate areas of protection, includes a slight univallate hillfort with outwork situated on a prominent ridge between the valleys of the River Yeo and a tributary to the River Taw. The monument survives as an irregular shaped enclosure measuring up to 126m long by 110m wide internally defined by a rampart and partially buried ditch. A further linear outwork 400m to the east survives as a rampart measuring 150m long and up to 1m high, with its partially buried eastern quarry ditch being up to 0.5m deep.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

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, more elaborate features like overlapping ramparts and outworks are limited to only a few examples. Slight univallate hillforts are rare nationally, although in Devon they comprise one of the major classes of hillfort. Slight univallate hillforts are important for understanding the transition between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities.

The slight univallate hillfort north east of Roborough Farmhouse survives well and has a separate outlying outwork which makes it more unusual. It will contain important archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, use and landscape context.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 33788

Source: Historic England