Cow Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cow Castle |
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Cow Castle
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| Location | Exford, Somerset, England |
| Area | 1.2 hectares (3.0 acres) |
| Built | Iron Age |
| Reference no. | 34989 |
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Cow Castle is an ancient hill fort from the Iron Age. It's found in Exmoor National Park, near Exford, in Somerset, England. This site is a special historical place called a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's protected by law because it's so important.
Cow Castle is also on a list called 'Heritage at Risk'. This is because a plant called bracken is growing over it and could cause damage.
This fort sits on its own hilltop. It has a single wall, called a rampart, and a ditch around it. The whole area is about 1.2 hectares (that's like three football fields!). The rampart can be up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) high. It's located in the beautiful valley of the River Barle.
Local legends say that fairies built Cow Castle! They supposedly built it to protect themselves from the earth itself.
What is a Hill Fort?
A hill fort is a type of ancient fortress. People built them on top of hills. They were common during the Bronze Age and Iron Age. These forts were often surrounded by large earth walls, called ramparts, and deep ditches.
Why Were Hill Forts Built?
People built hill forts for several reasons. They were often used as safe places for communities. They could protect people and their animals from danger. Sometimes, they were also important places for trade or meetings.
During the Iron Age, life in Britain was changing. More people meant more pressure on land and food. Hill forts might have been built to help defend communities when there were arguments or even small wars. They were like strongholds where people could go for safety.
Archaeologists study these sites to learn about how people lived long ago. They help us understand the history of Britain.
