Iron Age Settlement in the Mendip Hills

Enclosed, or defended, settlements of varying sizes were constructed throughout the Mendip Hills during the Iron Age.  These were visible on aerial photographs either as upstanding earthwork sites or as cropmarks, where buried remains have affected the growth of crops above them.

 

An example of a small earthwork enclosure can be seen at Rowberrow Camp and a larger example at Maesbury Camp.

A banjo enclosure, named because of its shape, can be seen as a cropmark on Wattles Hill.  These enclosures had long, narrow, entrances and were possibly used for the control of livestock.

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