Castle Old Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle Old Fort |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Hill fort |
| Town or city | Stonnall |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°37′37″N 1°54′34″W / 52.62707°N 1.90943°W |
| Construction started | Iron Age |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
Castle Old Fort is an ancient hill fort from the Iron Age. It is located in Stonnall, a village in England. This fort was a special kind of settlement built on a hill. People lived here a very long time ago! Today, a house stands where the fort used to be.
Contents
What is Castle Old Fort?
Castle Old Fort is a small Iron Age hill fort. It is found in Stonnall, which is part of Walsall in the West Midlands, England. An "Iron Age" fort means it was built during the time when people first started using iron tools. A "hill fort" is a settlement built on a hill for protection.
Where is this ancient fort?
The fort is on the southern side of Castle Hill. It is a type of fort called a "promontory fort." This means it was built on a piece of land that sticks out. Its location allowed the people living there to see anyone approaching from the south. This was especially important for watching the old road, now known as Chester Road.
How big was Castle Old Fort?
The fort covers about 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) acres of land. It has an oval shape. From north to south, it measures about 170 m (560 ft). From east to west, it is about 130 m (430 ft) wide.
What protected the fort?
The fort was protected by an earth rampart, which is like a big wall made of earth. Around this rampart was a ditch. The main way to get into the fort was through an entrance on the south-east side. Some evidence suggests there might have been a second line of defenses. This would have included another bank and ditch for extra protection.
What was found at the fort?
In the 1600s, an archaeologist named Robert Plot explored the site. He reported finding several interesting items. These included flint arrowheads, which were used for hunting or fighting. He also found pieces of Roman pottery. Even more exciting, he discovered Roman coins! These coins were from the time of Roman emperors like Otho, Domitian, and Nero. Robert Plot also mentioned a second entrance to the fort on the north-west side. However, this area has since been changed by quarrying, which means stone was removed from there.
Images for kids
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3D view of the digital terrain model
