Fin Cop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fin Cop |
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The summit of Fin Cop
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 327 m |
| Geography | |
 Fin Cop
Location in England
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| Location | Derbyshire, England |
Fin Cop is a hill in Derbyshire, England. It is located near Ashford in the Water in Monsal Dale. This hill is also home to an ancient Iron Age hill fort.
A hill fort is a type of fort built on a hill. People in the Iron Age often built these for protection. Fin Cop is special because it shows signs of being built very quickly. This suggests the people living there might have been in a hurry. They were likely preparing for a real danger, not just building it to show off.
Today, Fin Cop and some nearby ancient sites are protected. These include an old burial mound (called a bowl barrow), a lime kiln, and a quarry. Together, they are known as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means they are important historical places that must be preserved.
Discoveries at Fin Cop
What Archaeologists Found
In 2011, archaeologists explored Fin Cop. They made an amazing discovery. They found the bones of many people buried together. Most of these remains belonged to women and children. This was the first time such a discovery was made from the Iron Age in Britain.
The bones were quite well preserved. This is because the hill is made of limestone. Limestone helps keep things from decaying too quickly. Scientists also found some animal bones. This tells us that the people living there likely kept animals for food or other uses.
Dating the Fort
Scientists used a method called carbon dating. This helps them figure out how old ancient objects are. They learned that the Fin Cop hill fort was built a very long time ago. It was constructed between 440 BC and 390 BC. This means it is over 2,300 years old!
The discovery of the burial site gives us clues about life in the Iron Age. It suggests that people faced dangers and sometimes had to build defenses quickly. It also shows us how archaeologists learn about the past. They study bones, tools, and structures to piece together history.
Images for kids
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3D view of the digital terrain model
