Long Wood Enclosure facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long Wood Enclosure |
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| Location | Dunster, Somerset, England |
| Built | Bronze Age – Iron Age |
| Official name: Long Wood Enclosure | |
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Long Wood Enclosure is an ancient site in Somerset, England. It is believed to have been an Iron Age hill fort, which is a type of ancient fort built on a hill. You can find it about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) southwest of the village of Dunster. This important historical place is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The enclosure is roughly 40 meters (130 feet) across, covering about 0.15 hectares (0.37 acres). It has a bank and a ditch around it, which are about 6.5 meters (21 feet) wide and 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) high. The original way into the fort was probably a gap in the bank, across from a raised path on the uphill side. Sadly, parts of the hill fort have been damaged recently because of tree planting in the area.
What Are Hill Forts?
Hill forts were special settlements and defensive places built a very long time ago, mostly during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. This was around the start of the first millennium BC (about 3,000 years ago!). People built them on hills, which gave them a good view of the land around and made them harder for enemies to attack.
Why Were Hill Forts Built?
Historians and archaeologists have debated for a long time why people built so many hill forts in Britain. Here are some of the main ideas:
- Defense: Some experts think they were built as strongholds to protect communities from attacks, possibly from other groups in Britain or even invaders from mainland Europe.
- Community Hubs: Others believe they were important centers for communities. People might have gathered there for trade, meetings, or religious ceremonies.
- Social Change: A popular idea is that as iron became more common, it changed how society worked. Iron ore was found in different places than the materials needed for bronze. This shifted trade routes and power, leading to new groups of people becoming important. Hill forts might have been built by these new powerful groups.
- Population Growth: It's also thought that as the population grew, there was more pressure on land and resources. Hill forts could have offered a safe place for people to go if tensions led to conflict.
So, while they definitely offered protection, hill forts were likely more than just military bases. They were important places where people lived, traded, and came together, especially when times were tough.
