Norton Camp
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Norton Camp is a Bronze Age hill fort at Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton in Somerset, England.
The earthwork consists of a single circular rampart (univallate) up to 3 m high, with three holloway entrances dominated by linear banks extending out from the main perimeter. The ring has a diameter of about 250 m, enclosing an area of 5 ha. The fort is at the top of low hill (50 m) about 1 km north of the River Tone.
The site was excavated by Mr. H. St. George Gray in July 1908. The original ditch was shown to be 2.75 m deep. Pottery shards dated from the Bronze Age and the Roman period, but no evidence of occupation from other periods.
Further excavations in 1968-1971 by Nancy and Philip Langmaid found flints from the mesolithic and neolithic, as well as extensive hoards of bronze metalwork, 9 bracelets, an axe-head and sword moulds from the Bronze Age (700 BC). They also found evidence of refortifiction in the Iron Age, from the period before Roman occupation (around 43 AD).
In 1981, a neolithic axe-head made from greensand chert was found. There is further evidence from aerial photographs of cropmarks and post holes, possibly from roundhouses.
The site is next to Norton Manor Camp, home of 40 Commando, Royal Marines.
[edit] References
- The Archaeology of Somerset, Michael Aston and Ian Burrow (Eds) (1982) ISBN 0-86183-028-8
- Somerset Historic Environment Record [1] (Site no. 43399)
