New Ditch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Ditch |
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| Location | Butleigh, Somerset, England |
| Reference no. | Somerset 447 |
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New Ditch is a long, low wall or bank of earth. This type of structure is called an earthwork. Experts think it might have been built a very long time ago. It could be from the Iron Age (around 800 BC to AD 100) or the Medieval period (around AD 500 to 1500).
This ancient earthwork cuts across part of the Polden Hills. You can find it in the woodlands about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) southwest of Butleigh village. This village is in Somerset, England.
What is New Ditch?
New Ditch is a type of earthwork that stretches in a line. It's similar to another ancient earthwork called Ponter's Ball Dyke. That one is about 3 miles (4.8 km) to the northeast. Both New Ditch and Ponter's Ball Dyke have a ditch on the southeast side of their main bank.
New Ditch is not as big or strong as Ponter's Ball Dyke. However, both earthworks were likely part of a bigger defense system. This means they were probably built to protect an area.
How Was New Ditch Built?
New Ditch is almost half a mile (0.8 km) long today. It was probably even longer when it was first built. Even though it's long, it's not quite a "cross-ridge dyke." A cross-ridge dyke usually goes all the way across a ridge.
Still, New Ditch seems to have been a boundary. This means it marked a border or edge of a territory. It could have been used to show who owned land or to control movement.
Is New Ditch Really Ancient?
There is some debate about how old New Ditch really is. It's located very close to an old medieval woodland. It's also near a medieval deer park. Because of this, some people wonder if it's truly from the Iron Age. It might be a much later medieval boundary instead.
