Hembury

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Hembury is a Neolithic causewayed enclosure near Honiton in Devon. It dates to the late fifth and early fourth millennia BC and is believed to have been the capital of the Dumnonii tribe. The fort is situated on a promontory to the North of and overlooking the River Dart at approx 178 Metres above Sea Level.^[1] It has given its name to some of the earliest Neolithic pottery in southern Britain. An Iron Age hill fort^[2] was later built on the same site. There has been archaeological evidence found on the site of Roman Military occupation, suggesting a Fort within the existing Iron Age site.

It was excavated between 1930 and 1935 by Dorothy Liddell. She identified a timber framed entrance to the causewayed enclosure and an oval arrangement of postholes in the middle which she interpreted as being a building destroyed by fire before the enclosure earthworks were built.

Hembury pottery was generally round bottomed bowls with lug handles, much of it was made further west, around The Lizard and it was traded throughout the British Isles.

[edit] References

^ Sellman, R.R. (1985). "The Iron Age in Devon (ch.2)", Aspects of Devon History. Exeter: Devon Books, pg.11 (Map of Iron Age hill forts in Devon including Hembury Castle). ISBN 0861147561.
^ R.R.Sellman; Aspects of Devon History, Devon Books 1985 - ISBN 0861147561 - Chapter 2; The Iron Age in Devon. Map Page 11 of Iron Age hill forts in Devon includes Hembury.