Summary

Defended settlement, 392m north west of Barty’s Law.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 23 May 2016. 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.

The monument includes a defended settlement of Iron Age date, situated on Buckton Moor North on a slight rise on a north east facing slope. The enclosure is sub-circular and has a diameter of approximately 38m. It is partially surrounded by a double earth and stone bank and a ditch which is preserved as an earthwork on its south and west sides. The principal bank is up to 10m wide and 1.5m high and has an outer ditch to the south and west with an entrance in the south east. The second bank has a slightly smaller profile and is preserved as an earthwork on the south west side.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

During the earlier Iron Age (seventh to fifth centuries BC) a variety of different types of defensive settlements began to be constructed and occupied in the northern uplands of England. The most obvious sites were hillforts built in prominent locations. In addition to these a range of smaller sites, sometimes with an enclosed area of less than 1ha and defined as defended settlements, were also constructed. Some of these were located on hilltops, others are found in less prominent positions. The enclosing defences were of earthen construction, some sites having a single bank and ditch (univallate), others having more than one (multivallate). At some sites these earthen ramparts represent a second phase of defence, the first having been a timber fence or palisade. Within the enclosure a number of stone or timber-built round houses were occupied by the inhabitants. Stock may also have been kept in these houses, especially during the cold winter months, or in enclosed yards outside them. The communities occupying these sites were probably single family groups, the defended settlements being used as farmsteads. Construction and use of this type of site extended over several centuries, possibly through to the early Romano-British period (mid to late first century AD). Defended settlements are a rare monument type. They were an important element of the later prehistoric settlement pattern of the northern uplands and are important for any study of the developing use of fortified settlements during this period.

The remaining portion of the defended settlement north west of Barty’s Law is reasonably well preserved. The remaining upstanding earthworks and below ground features such as ditches will contain archaeological deposits relating to the construction, use and abandonment of the monument.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 6025

Source: Historic England