East Yorkshire’s Middle-Iron-Age story stands out in Britain because the communities who farmed the chalk of the Yorkshire Wolds developed what archaeologists call the Arras culture: a distinctive blend of continental La Tène fashions and local invention that is visible above all in their cemeteries. Three elements make it special.
The henge at Catterick racecourse is an intriguing prehistoric site. Initially thought to be a Roman amphitheatre, it is now believed to be a henge, a type of Neolithic earthwork. Crop-mark mapping defined the henge, the 1990s rescue dig explained its mixed bank and cairn fabric, Roman-town excavations showed how much of it was levelled in antiquity, and the motorway programme set the site back into a much larger prehistoric landscape.
For over five hundred years, the miners and smelters of Reeth produced mountains of precious lead. The lead ores from Reeth had high concentrations of Silver, Lead itself became and important ingredient in bronze. Maiden Castle, deep in the Swaledale lead mining territory a unique piece of Iron Age architecture. It is the only known fort with what seems to be a processional entrance.
A superbly circular “fort”, built on the side of the hill, which seems to be a Brigantian fashion (see below). This is built with two rampart walls and a very narrow ditch between – 1-2m. If these were defences, they seem pretty slight. In it’s way, a miniature version of Wandlebury, but only about 200m circumference.
Castle Hill’s imposing silhouette hides a great prehistoric fort, Norman castle and Victorian tower. Thanks to Varley’s trenches and the 1995 RCHME survey we have a solid structural framework, yet key chronological pins, remain to be driven. It is therefore both a celebrated landmark for Huddersfield and a live research asset for Iron-Age, and medieval research.
Sep 27
C’est lors d’un voyage en Ecosse, au cours de l’été 1997, que nous avons entendu parler pour la première fois de forts vitrifiés. C’était au château d’Urqhart, au sud d’Inverness. Les monuments historiques fermant tôt, dans ce pays, nous ne pûmes voir que de loin cette impressionnante forteresse en ruine du XIIe siècle qui domine la rive occidentale du Loch Ness. Nous nous contentâmes juste de faire des photos au téléobjectif depuis le parking et de lire les panneaux retraçant l’historique du site.
Sep 27
It was during a trip to.Scotland, in the Summer of 1997, that I first heard of vitrified hillforts. It was near Urqhart Castle, south of Inverness. As ancient monuments close early in that country, I could only see from a distance that impressive ruined fortress overlooking the west bank of Loch Ness.
Sep 24
English names, Roman names where known, four figure map reference, site type, size, and history, including garrisons and associated military units.
Sep 24
Timeline 60BC – 138AD This timeline is focussed on the British Celtic culture and those cultures which had influence on the British Celts. It Read more Cerialis Petillius Quintus Petillius Cerialis Caesius Rufus was the son-in-law of Vespasian Cerialis and became Governor of Britain in AD.71; his instructions Read more Julius Caesar Ask anyone to …
Sep 24
Timeline 60BC – 138AD This timeline is focussed on the British Celtic culture and those cultures which had influence on the British Celts. It Read more Cerialis Petillius Quintus Petillius Cerialis Caesius Rufus was the son-in-law of Vespasian Cerialis and became Governor of Britain in AD.71; his instructions Read more Julius Caesar Ask anyone to …
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