Castlesteads, Greater Manchester facts for kids
Castlesteads is an ancient hillfort from the Iron Age. It sits on a natural piece of land that sticks out into the River Irwell in Bury, Greater Manchester. This special spot made it easy to defend. Today, Castlesteads is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which means it's a very important historical site protected by law.
Archaeologists have found old pottery at Castlesteads. This pottery tells us that people lived here a very long time ago, between about 200 BC and 250 AD. That's roughly 2,200 to 1,770 years ago!
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What is Castlesteads?
Castlesteads is known as a "promontory fort." Imagine a piece of land that juts out, almost like a small peninsula, with a river on one side. This natural shape made it a great place for people to build a fort. They would have added extra defenses, like ditches and banks, to make it even safer.
Life in the Iron Age
The Iron Age was a time in history when people started using iron to make tools and weapons. Before this, they mostly used bronze. In Britain, the Iron Age lasted from about 800 BC to 100 AD. People living at Castlesteads would have been part of this period.
Who lived there?
The people who lived at Castlesteads were likely farmers. They would have grown crops and raised animals. The fort would have been a safe place for their homes and livestock. It also offered protection from other tribes or groups.
What did they eat?
Iron Age people ate a lot of grains like wheat and barley. They would grind these to make bread or porridge. They also ate meat from animals like cows, sheep, and pigs. Hunting and gathering wild foods would have added to their diet.
Why was Castlesteads built?
Forts like Castlesteads were built for protection. Living on a promontory with a river on one side gave them a natural barrier. The people then added more defenses to make it harder for enemies to attack.
How did they defend it?
Besides the natural river barrier, Iron Age forts often had large earthworks. These were huge banks of earth and deep ditches. Sometimes, they would also build wooden fences or walls on top of the banks. These defenses would have made it very difficult for anyone to get inside.
What is a Scheduled Ancient Monument?
Being a Scheduled Ancient Monument means Castlesteads is a very important historical site. The government protects these sites to make sure they are preserved for future generations. It's like a special badge of honor for old places!
