Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland

EN0447 Westwood, Somerset (West Wood Hillfort)

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade

Satellite Imagery

Satellite Imagery

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HER:  Somerset 54484 (None)

NMR:  ST 42 NE 28 (193579)

SM:  None

NGR:  ST46062963

X:  346060  Y:  129630  (OSGB36)

Summary

Cropmark promontory fort located on a prominent spur bounded by steep sloping hillsides at the extreme edge of limestone uplands overlooking the River Cary and SE Somerset Levels, King's Sedgemoor. Confirmed by aerial survey 1990 and geophysics 1993. Investigation has a confused history beginning with excavation of a mound - an alleged Bronze Age barrow - in the interior of the fort. A skeleton with an iron bracelet on the right arm, an iron knife, bone pin, two fibulae and a large quantity of Romano-British pottery were found. A Roman farmstead site was later suggested. A geophysical survey of 1993, however, confirmed promontory fort defences, indicated by aerial survey in 1990. On the S and E three lines of defence noted. A possible entrance on the E disturbed by the barrow excavations. Interior divided into two areas, the smaller devoted to most of the roundhouses identified, but both contained pits. Three linear features ran from the SW towards a possible W entrance. Banks to N on edge of West Wood and ditch to E noted, plus slight irregular scarp identified as remnant of mound suggested as a barrow. This, together with its position in the middle of the fort's defences, plus the rather confused account of the excavation, suggest that the alleged barrow mound may be part of a denuded rampart. The burial and Romano-British pottery may belong to a later phase of occupation on the hill-top.

Status

Citizen Science:  

Reliability of Data:  Confirmed

Reliability of Interpretation:  Confirmed

Location

X:  -308483  Y:  6632516  (EPSG: 3857)

Longitude:  -2.77115250260057  Latitude:  51.063401472871725  (EPSG:4326)

Country:  England

Current County or Unitary Authority:  Somerset

Historic County:  Somerset

Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  Somerton

Monument Condition

Ploughed-out.

Condition:
Extant  
Cropmark  
Likely Destroyed  

Land Use

Ditch in West Wood to E.

Current Use:
Woodland  
Commercial Forestry Plantation  
Parkland  
Pasture (Grazing)  
Arable  
Scrub/Bracken  
Bare Outcrop  
Heather/Moorland  
Heath  
Built-up  
Coastal Grassland  
Other  

Landscape

Hillfort Type

Cropmark promontory fort located on a prominent spur bounded by steep sloping hillsides at the extreme edge of limestone uplands, overlooking the River Cary and SE Somerset Levels, King's Sedgemoor.

Type:
Contour Fort  
Partial Contour Fort  
Promontory Fort  
Hillslope Fort  
Level Terrain Fort  
Marsh Fort  
Multiple Enclosure Fort  

Topographic Position

Position:
Hilltop  
Coastal Promontory  
Inland Promontory  
Valley Bottom  
Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop  
Ridge  
Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp  
Hillslope  
Lowland  
Spur  

Dominant Topographic Feature:  Prominent spur

Aspect:
North  
Northeast  
East  
Southeast  
South  
Southwest  
West  
Northwest  
Level  

Altitude:  72.0m

Boundary

N/A


Dating Evidence

Although excavated, geophysics suggests that the Bronze Age 'barrow' was in fact a part of promontory fort defences. Finds of Romano-British date suggest later phase occupation.

Reliability:  B - Medium

Principal Activity:
Pre 1200BC  
1200BC - 800BC  
800BC - 400BC  
400BC - AD50  
AD50 - AD400  
AD400 - AD 800  
Post AD800  
Unknown  

Other Activity:
Pre Hillfort:   None
Post Hillfort:   None

Evidence:
Artefactual:   Finds of Romano-British date suggest later occupation.

Investigation History

Aerial survey investigation 1990. Geophysical survey 1993 which showed that the supposed Bronze Age barrow on site possibly part of promontory fort defences. Excavation of Westwood Barrow 1945-6.

Investigations:
Other (1990):   Aerial survey investigation - no details.
Geophysical Survey (1993):   Geophysical Surveys of Bradford.
Excavation (None):   Excavation of Westwood Barrow 1945-6 by R.E. Thyer.

Interior Features

Aerial photograph investigation 1990 proved promontory fort. A skeleton with an iron bracelet on the right arm, an iron knife, bone pin, two fibulae and a large quantity of Romano-British pottery were found. Magnetometer and resistivity surveys 1993 noted defences and interior features - roundhouses, pits, and linear features outside fort.

Water Source

None

Source:
None  
Spring  
Stream  
Pool  
Flush  
Well  
Other  

Surface

None

Interior Features (Surface):
No Known Features  
Round Stone Structures  
Rectangular Stone Structures  
Curvilinear Platforms  
Other Roundhouse Evidence  
Pits  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  

Excavation

None

Interior Features (Excavation):
No Known Excavation  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Geophysics

Magnetometer and resistivity surveys 1993 noted defences and interior features - roundhouses, pits, and linear features outside fort.

Interior Features (Geophysics):
No Known Geophysics  
Pits  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Roads/Tracks  
Quarry Hollows  
Other  
Nothing Found  

Finds

A skeleton with an iron bracelet on the right arm, an iron knife, bone pin, two fibulae and a large quantity of Romano-British pottery were found.

Interior (Finds):
No Known Finds  
Pottery  
Metal  
Metalworking  
Human Bones  
Animal Bones  
Lithics  
Environmental  
Other  

Aerial

Aerial photograph investigation 1990 proved promontory fort defences.

Interior Features (Aerial):
APs Not Checked  
None  
Roundhouses  
Rectangular Structures  
Pits  
Postholes  
Roads/Tracks  
Other  

Entrances

Possible entrance on the E disturbed by the barrow excavations.

Total Number of Breaks Through Ramparts:  
None:   Breaks not determined.

Number of Possible Original Entrances:  
2:   None

Guard Chambers:  

Chevaux de Frise:  

Entrances:
1. Simple Gap (East):   Possible entrance on the E disturbed by the barrow excavations. Type not defined. Simple gap default.

Enclosing Works

On the S and E three lines of defence noted. A possible entrance on the E disturbed by the barrow excavations. Interior divided into two areas, the smaller devoted to most of the roundhouses identified, but both contained pits. Three linear features ran from the SW towards a possible W entrance. Banks to N at edge of West Wood and ditch to E noted, plus slight irregular scarp identified as remnant of mound suggested as a barrow. This, together with its position in the middle of the fort's defences, plus the rather confused account of the excavation, suggest that the alleged barrow mound may be part of a denuded rampart.

Enclosed Area:
Area 1:   Noneha.
Total:   Noneha.

Total Footprint Area:  Noneha.

Ramparts

None

Multi-period Enclosure System:
✗   Area not defined.

Ramparts Form a Continuous Circuit:
✗   None

Number of Ramparts:  
NE Quadrant:   0
SE Quadrant:   1
SW Quadrant:   None
NW Quadrant:   0
Total:   1

Morphology

Current Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  
Unknown  

Detailed Morphology:
Partial Univallate  
Univallate  
Partial Bivallate  
Bivallate  
Partial Multivallate  
Multivallate  

Surface Evidence

None

Enclosing Works (Surface):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Rubble  
Wall-walk  
Evidence of Timber  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
Other  

Excavated Evidence

None

Enclosing Works (Excavation):
None  
Earthen Bank  
Stone Wall  
Murus Duplex  
Timber-framed  
Timber-laced  
Vitrification  
Other Burning  
Palisade  
Counter Scarp Bank  
Berm  
Unfinished  
No Known Excavation  
Other  

Other

Gang Working:
✗   None

Ditches:
✓   Ditch probably buried. In West Wood to E ditch c. 8m wide x 0.5m deep. All require investigation.

Number of Ditches:  1

Annex:
✗   None

References

Aston, M. and Stokes, P. 1990. Somerton Park, Park, ST459296, in eds C.J. Webster and R.A. Croft, Somerset Archaeology 1990, Proc Somerset Archaeol and Natur Hist Soc, 134, 215-16.

Geophysical Surveys of Bradford 1993. Westwood Fort/geophysical report, 93/19, National Monument Record Centre.

Riley, H. 1993. Somerton, Westwood, ST45992959, in eds C.J. Webster and R.A. Croft, Somerset Archaeology 1993, Proc Somerset Archaeol Natur Hist Soc, 137,137.



Terms of Use

This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and should be cited as:

Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk


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