Defensive Structures Archives - Page 2 of 5

Category: Defensive Structures

Jun 27

Prehistoric mounds, cairns and boundary earthworks in Coverdale

Filed under Archaeology, Barrow, Boundary Marker, Brigantia, Brigantia England, Bronze Age, Burial Mound, Dark Ages, Dark Ages Brigantia, Early Christian, Early Medieval, Guide, Iron Age, Landscape Archaeology, Landscape feature, Motte and Bailey, Mound, New Sites, Roman, Terraces, Visible Remains

A gazetteer of probable prehistoric mounds, cairns and boundary earthworks in Coverdale. It is not complete and is still being researched.

Barrows, Boundary Markers, Bronze Age, Cairns, Coverdale, Ditches, Dykes, Earthworks, Iron Age, Medieval, Mounds, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire Dales
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Jun 16

Hillforts: Defence or Ritual? – Part 1

Filed under Archaeology, Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Critical Thinking, Defensive Structures, Earthworks, Guide, Hill Fort, Univallet Hillfort, Vitrified Fort

Over the last five years Iron-Age specialists have been re-examining what British hillforts were really for. The question is no longer just “fortress or farm?” but whether many of them were built first and foremost as places of gathering, display and ritual.

Ad Gefrin, Barry Cunliffe, battle, Bowden, Castle Dykes, Ceremony, Debate, Defence, Hill Fort, Hill of Tara, hillfort, Iron Age, Julius Caesar, Maiden Castle, McOmish, Mortimer Wheeler, Northumberland, Paulinus, Ringforts, ritual, Ritual First, tacitus, Thornborough Henges, vitrified, Yeavering Bell
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Drumanagh Promontory Fort – First Ever Intact Roman Pot Found in Ireland

Filed under Agricola, Amphora, Bone Comb, Defensive Structures, Fort, Gaming Pieces, Hill Fort, Ireland, Iron Age, Late Iron Age, Leaders, News, Promontory fort, Roman pottery

RTE Ireland has reported that more recently they have made yet another remarkable discovery—an intact Roman pot. the first one to be uncovered on Irish soil, and providing more tantalising clues about ancient Roman-Irish interactions.

Although the Roman Empire they never reached Ireland (except, seemingly, in myth). That does not mean, that Roman influence and goods did enter Ireland, and it means that Drumanagh continues to headline as one of Irelands most tantalising archaeological sites for that same reason – exactly what were the Romans doing in Ireland?

Amphora, Bone Comb, Brass, Charred Fig, Copper, County Dublin, Drumanagh, Drumanagh Promontory Fort, Gaming Pieces, Glass Beads, Ingot, Intack Pot, ireland, Iron Age, myth, Promontory Fort, Roman, tacitus, Trading

Barry Hill Fort

Filed under Fort, Hill Fort, Iron Age, Vitrified Fort

Barry Hill is a textbook “big fort waiting for a small trench”: its spectacular vitrified rampart, enigmatic outer works and Arthurian folklore offer equal attraction to scientists and story-lovers—yet almost everything we know comes from surface survey. A single, well-designed excavation season could pivot the site from picturesque curiosity to a securely dated anchor point in the defensive story of eastern Scotland.

Dunagoil Hillfort, (Isle of Bute, Argyll & Bute)

Filed under Archaeology, Bronze Age, Dark Ages, Defensive Structures, Early Medieval, Hill Fort, Iron Age, New Sites, Vitrified Fort

Dunagoil crowns a 30 m-high columnar-basalt promontory on the south-west coast of Bute, overlooking the Sound of Bute and the Cumbraes. Cliffs on the north and west form natural ramparts; only the gentle ESE saddle gives easy access.

May 20

Guide: Fortified Barns in Yorkshire – A historical overview

Filed under Brigantia England, Enclosure, Fortified Barn, Georgian, Guide, Jacobite, Landscape feature, Medieval, Medieval Brigantia, Stuart, Tudor

Even in a rural community of mainly farmers, there are often reasons to wish to build or create a structure that is for, at least in part, for defensive purposes. Thus, some barns in Yorkshire and other places can be seen to have “arrow slits”, and later, square “gun ports”. This article provides a brief overview of what these structures are, why they were built and how they were used.

Abbey, Barn, Bastle, Bastle-barn, Bolton Abbey, Bolton Priory Tithe Barn, Bowlees, Byre, Coverdale, Dentdale, Easby, Estate Barn, Fountains Abbey, Friar's Head Grange Barn, gun-loop, Holwick, Jervaulx, Keld, Langstrothdale, Loophole, Monastic, Mount Grace, Muker, Musket-loop, Nidderdale, North Riding, priory, Put-log hole, Rievaulx, Scar House Coal Barn, Stang-side Bustle, Swaledale, Thornton Stewart, Thwaite, Town Head Farm Barn, Upper Teasdale, Wensleydale, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Dales
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Round Hill Motte at Carlton-in-Coverdale

Filed under Archaeology, Barrow, Earthworks, Geography, Geology, Medieval, Motte and Bailey

Carlton Castle, or Round Hill Motte, at Carlton-in-Coverdale is an intriguing historical site that offers a glimpse into the medieval past of the Yorkshire Dales. The structure seems related to an extensive set of linear earthworks that have been interpreted as agricultural, however, their existence asks a question: if these are not older than this medieval interpretation.

bailey, Carlton Castle, Coverdale, Earthworks, Medieval, motte, Mound, Ridge and Furrow, Round Hill, Yorkshire Dales
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Mar 25

The Legend of Caer Caradoc

Filed under Arthur, Caratacus, Dark Ages, Defensive Structures, Early Christian, Hill Fort, Iron Age, Regional Surveys, Research, Roman

Caer Caradoc is often linked to Caradoc (or Caradog), a prominent figure in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend. Caradoc is considered one of the knights of the Round Table in Arthurian lore, and he is sometimes referred to as Caradoc of the Battle or Caradoc the Brave. He was known for his bravery and his loyalty to King Arthur.

Bracon Beacons, Brigantes, Brigantia, Caer, Caradoc, Caradoc Hills, Cartacus, Cartimandua, Catuvellauni, celtic, Christianity, Fortress, Hill Fort, King Arthur, Powys, Roman, Roman Invasion, romans, Shropshire, wales
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John O’Gaunt’s Castle and Beaver Dyke – Harrogate

Filed under Castle, Dike, Medieval

John OGaunts Castle - Harrogate 2025-02-06 222818

John O’Gaunt’s Castle, located near Harrogate in North Yorkshire, is a historical site with roots that intertwine myth, history, and medieval legend.

Jan 17

Guide – Applying critical thinking to historic and archaeological research

Filed under Angle, Anglo-saxon, Archaeology, Articles, Brigantia England, Bronze Age, Fort, Guide, Hill Fort, Iron Age, Reports

Often, the key aspect of being able to make progress with regards to researching the past. Is through the application of critical thinking, when it comes to accepting common, or even given understanding and interpretations of what is being explored.