Wraxall Camp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wraxall Camp |
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| England | |
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Looking south. Woods of Wraxall Camp to the left.
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 Wraxall Camp
Location in Somerset
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| Coordinates | 51°26′40″N 2°41′29″W / 51.444319°N 2.691328°W |
| Type | Earthwork |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Overgrown |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Earth |
Wraxall Camp, also known as Failand Camp, is a small, round earthwork located in Somerset, England. An "earthwork" is a structure made by shaping the earth, like a mound or a ditch. Today, it's hard to see clearly because it's covered by thick woods. Experts believe it was an ancient farmstead from the Iron Age, not a fort built for defense.
What is Wraxall Camp?
Wraxall Camp is a special historical site called a "scheduled monument." This means it's protected by law because it's important to history. It's found in the area of Wraxall and Failand in North Somerset. This part of England has hills made of a type of rock called carboniferous limestone.
The site is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Wraxall village. It is also about 100 meters (330 ft) north of Failand village. The camp is an Iron Age settlement. It has a raised oval area inside that is about 40 meters (130 ft) wide at its longest point.
There might be signs of old farming areas near the camp. These could connect to a system of fields found south and southwest of Manor Farm.
What Was Found There?
In 1928, people did some digging at Wraxall Camp. They found pieces of black, shiny pottery. They also found a bracelet made from Kimmeridge shale. These items are typical of rural homes from the Iron Age period.
The things found were kept at a museum in Bristol. Sadly, they were destroyed during bombing in World War II (1939–1945). Many sharp stone tools, called "worked flints," have also been found in the fields around the camp. Today, the entire site is covered thickly with trees.
How Was Wraxall Camp Built?
Wraxall Camp is on ground that is high but also quite flat. This suggests it was most likely a farmstead, not a place built for defense. Inside the camp, there are small earth mounds. These mark where homes might have been.
The homes were surrounded by a bank and a ditch. The bank was made of earth and small stones. It was built over natural rock. The bank was up to 8 meters (26 ft) wide. Today, it is no more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) high.
The ditch can still be seen in some places, especially to the south and west. Where it is visible, it was about 8 meters (26 ft) wide. There might have been an entrance to the camp on the southwest side.
