Kingsdown Camp facts for kids

Kingsdown Camp is an ancient hill fort from the Iron Age. It is located near Buckland Dinham in Somerset, England. This historic site is about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) southeast of Radstock.

Kingsdown Camp is a special place. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it is an important historical site that must be preserved.

What is Kingsdown Camp?

Kingsdown Camp is a type of hill fort called a "univallate" fort. This means it had one main defensive wall or rampart. The fort covers an area of about 0.15 hectares (0.37 acres). It has a shape that is roughly like a square.

During the Iron Age or Roman times, a strong stone wall was built here. This wall was made of drystone, meaning no mortar was used to hold the stones together. It might have been about 4 meters (13 feet) tall and 2.5 meters (8 feet) wide.

The fort has an entrance on its northeast side. Even after the Iron Age, the Romans continued to use Kingsdown Camp.

Why Were Hill Forts Built?

Hill forts like Kingsdown Camp were built a very long time ago. They started appearing in Britain during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. This was around the start of the first millennium BC.

People built these forts on high ground, like hills. This gave them a good view of the surrounding area. It also made the forts harder for enemies to attack.

Hill forts likely served as safe places for communities. They could be used for protection during times of trouble or conflict. They might also have been important gathering places for people.