Monument Type(s):

• CROSS DYKE (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2600 BC? to 43 AD?)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A cross dyke or spur dyke subsequently incorporated in the western defences of Castle Ring Hillfort (PRN 00187).

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4511 - Undated field observation

Description

A spur dyke which forms part of the Ratlinghope/ Stitt Hill complex. It measures 27m long with a max height of 1.2m from ditch to crest and an overall width of 14m. Part of a related group with SA 186, 187 and 188; which by analogy with comparable sites should be attributed to an essentially pastoral community of about the first millenium BC. <1a>

A spur dyke is situated at SO 40279780, crossing at right-angles the narrow crest of an east-west spur on Stitt Hill. The dyke comprises a bank of earth and stone, 31.0m. in length, 6.5m. in width, and averaging 0.8m. in height, with the remains of a ditch on the east, uphill side, 6.5m. wide, and up to 0.4m. deep. The southern half of both bank and ditch has been reduced by ploughing in the past. The site is now under permanent sheep pasture. <1b>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, as one of less than 10 Cross-Dykes.<9>

The monument includes the remains of a slight univallate hillfort [PRN 00187], which incorporates a series of cross dykes, situated at the junction of a west spur and south spur at the south west end of Stitt Hill. The hillfort is roughly triangular in plan with maximum dimensions of 160m east to west by 170m north to south and has an enclosed area of just over one ha. The defences have developed from a series of cross dykes, cutting across natural spurs, into a near-continuous enclosure. The scale of the defences takes account of the natural topography so that, whilst the northern side of the site is defended by a strong cross dyke type rampart, the south side depends heavily on the natural steepness of the hillslope. ->

-> The northern rampart is designed to protect the site from the natural approach along the hilltop to the north. It comprises a well defined earthen bank up to 10m wide and 1.2m high on its internal south side, which stands 2.4m on its external (north) side above the bottom of a broad bottomed ditch 5m wide and 0.9m deep. A vestigial counter scarp bank 0.3m high runs along the outer edge of the ditch along most of its length. At its western extent the ditch has the form of several shallow scoops which may indicate its method of construction. This substantial bank and ditch cuts east to west across the hilltop, curving at either end before fading out in the west on a steepening natural slope and in the east at a simple entrance 12m wide. Running south west from this entrance the natural slope has been cut back to form a steepened slope or scarp 4m high. At the top of this scarp a terraced way 2m wide has been cut into the hilltop creating a parallel scarp 1.2m high. The terrace passes out through the original entrance in the north east and runs on along the ridge top to the south west. ->

-> The southern corner of the hillfort is bounded by three short parallel banks and ditches averaging lm high and 0.6m deep respectively. These short cross dykes cut north west to south east across the narrow spur and are designed to block any approach from the south. The western spur has a similarly positioned cross dyke. (PRN 0189) It lies some 90m west of the main enclosure and includes a low bank and ditch 27m long, north to south, with an overall width of 14m and standing up to 1.2m high. The remaining south west portion of the enclosure appears to have no artificial defence, relying instead on the natural steepness of the slopes at the head of a small valley. All modern boundary features are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath them is included. <10>

The cross-dyke described by the previous authorities was seen on aerial photographs and mapped as part of the Marches Uplands NMP. <11><11a>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.