Castles Camp facts for kids

Castles Camp is an ancient hill fort located in Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, during the Bronze Age and Iron Age. This special site is found about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the village of Bathealton.

A hill fort like Castles Camp is a type of fort built on a hill. It was usually surrounded by one or more large banks of earth and ditches for protection. At Castles Camp, you can still see some trees scattered around these old defences. People have even found ancient Roman coins here, showing that the site was important for a long time!

What are Hill Forts?

Hill forts are large, protected settlements that were common in Britain during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. This was roughly around 1000 BC. They were often built on high ground, giving people a good view of the surrounding area. This made them easier to defend.

Why Were Hill Forts Built?

Historians and archaeologists have different ideas about why people built hill forts. Some think they were military bases, built to protect against attacks from other groups or invaders. Others believe they were built because of growing tensions between people as the population increased.

One popular idea is that hill forts became important as people started using iron more. Before iron, people used bronze. Iron ore was found in different places than the metals needed for bronze. This changed how people traded and who held power in society.

Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe suggests that hill forts offered safe places for communities. When there were problems or conflicts, people could go to these forts for protection. He believes they weren't always built because of war, but they were useful strongholds when tensions rose. Some forts were attacked, but protection wasn't their only purpose.