Summary

Iron Age defended settlement called Battle Ring.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 2 December 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 an Iron Age defended settlement situated on the upper north east facing slopes of a ridge forming the watershed between two tributaries to the Lowley Brook. The settlement survives as a roughly circular enclosure measuring approximately 64m in diameter and defined by a rampart bank which survives differentially attaining a maximum height of up to 1.5m with a partially buried outer ditch measuring up to 15m wide and 1m deep. To the east and south the ditch is partially overlain by a modern field boundary which is excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath is included. To the north-west is a small roughly rectangular annexe defined on three sides by a bank of up to 1.5m high with a largely buried outer ditch. The ditch separates the annexe from the main enclosure. To the south-west the annexe is preserved as buried features and deposits.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

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. Despite some reduction in the heights of the earthworks through cultivation the Iron Age defended settlement called Battle Ring survives comparatively well and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, function, longevity, social organisation, territorial significance, agricultural practices, domestic arrangements and overall landscape context.

Source: Historic England