Details

The monument is a slight univallate hillfort located in a commanding position
at the western edge of the summit of Scarside Common. It includes an
oval-shaped internal plateau measuring approximately 50m by 39m that is
enclosed by a rampart of heaped stones which is up to 3m wide and 1.5m high. A
dry ditch up to 4m wide and 1.5m deep flanks the monument's south and
south-eastern sides. There is an entrance at the centre of the eastern side;
the rampart widens slightly north of the entrance and turns slightly outwards
south of the entrance.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

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 between 150 and 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, while access
to the interior is usually provided by two entrances comprising either simple
gaps in the earthwork or an inturned rampart. Postholes revealed by excavation
indicate the occasional presence of portal gateways while more elaborate
features like overlapping ramparts and outworks are limited to only a few
examples. Internal features include square or rectangular buildings supported
by four to six postholes and interpreted as raised granaries, timber or stone
round houses, large storage pits and hearths as well as scattered postholes,
stakeholes and gullies. Slight univallate hillforts are rare with around 150
examples recorded nationally. Although on a national scale the number is low,
in Devon they comprise one of the major classes of hillfort. In other areas
where the distribution is relatively dense, for example, Wessex, Sussex, the
Cotswolds and the Chilterns, hillforts belonging to a number of different
classes occur within the same region. Examples are also recorded in eastern
England, the Welsh Marches, central and southern England. In view of the
rarity of slight univallate hillforts and their importance in understanding
the transition between Bronze Age and Iron Age communities, all examples which
survive comparatively well and have potential for the recovery of further
archaeological remains are believed to be of national importance.

Despite some tree planting and scrub growth within the hillfort interior the
monument survives reasonably well. It is unexcavated and will retain evidence
for the arrangement of the settlement within the hillfort's interior and for
the building methods employed in construction of the defensive rampart.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Raymond,F., MPP Single Mon Class Description - Slight Univallate Hillforts, (1988)
RCHME, Westmorland, (1936)

Source: Historic England