Hill fort Burledge Hill

hill forts developed in late bronze , iron age, start of first millennium bc. reason emergence in britain, , purpose, has been subject of debate. has been argued have been military sites constructed in response invasion continental europe, sites built invaders, or military reaction social tensions caused increasing population , consequent pressure on agriculture. dominant view since 1960s has been increasing use of iron led social changes in britain. deposits of iron ore located in different places tin , copper ore necessary make bronze, , result trading patterns shifted , old elites lost economic , social status. power passed hands of new group of people. archaeologist barry cunliffe believes population increase still played role , has stated [the forts] provided defensive possibilities community @ times when stress [of increasing population] burst out open warfare. wouldn t see them having been built because there state of war. functional defensive strongholds when there tensions , undoubtedly of them attacked , destroyed, not only, or significant, factor in construction .

burledge hill fort univallate iron age hill fort. site investigated 3 times: in 1955 university of bristol spelaeological society , in 1959 , 1966 field investigation. in 1955, excavating archaeologists found evidence of postholes, ditches, , pits inside fort. found artefacts part of iron fibula, animal bones, , pottery. 1 find evidenced metalworking done @ site discovery of iron slag.