Summary

Slight univallate hillfort with outworks at Northcott Wood.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 22 October 2015. This 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.

This monument includes a slight univallate hillfort with outworks at Northcott Wood situated on the spur of a ridge overlooking the River Tamar. The monument survives as an oval enclosure measuring 80m by 40m internally, defined by a substantial bank, which measures up to 2.9m high. Beyond this is a partially buried ditch measuring up to 10m wide and 1.3m deep and a counterscarp bank measuring up to 1.7m high. There is a simple causewayed entrance to the south east. An additional outwork in the form of a bank lies to the north and east extends for approximately 180m and is up 1.8m high and provides additional defence across the promontory, whilst to the south and west is a second partially filled ditch.

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. They are important for understanding the transition between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities.

The slight univallate hillfort in Northcott Wood is unusual because it does have a system of outworks in the form of an outer bank to the north and a ditch to the south, thus giving additional defence to its already prominent position. It survives well and will contain both archaeological and environmental evidence within its buried layers and deposits concerning its construction, use and its surrounding landscape context.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 437388

Source: Historic England