Iron Age hillfort, Shackleton Beacon Hill, Heighington
A small multivallate hillfort of Iron Age date, situated in a prominent position on the west end of a promontory protected on the north and west sides by steep natural slopes. The hillfort is visible as a roughly oval enclosure 60 metres north west to south east by 75 metres north east to south west. The interior of the enclosure is on two levels. The western part, which is is a level platform, measures 75 metres by 27 metres, while to the east, the ground falls steeply away to a lower area some 60 metres by 20 metres. On the north east side the enclosure is protected by double banks of stone and earth each 5 metres wide and standing up to 1 metre high, separated by a medial ditch 5 metres wide and 1 metre deep. On the south and western sides the defences follow the natural slope of the hill; on these sides they are stronger and there is a sequence of four ditches and ramparts which decrease in size and strength down slope. The ramparts vary in height from 2.5 metres to 0.2 metres and they are on average 7 metres wide. The ditches vary between 0.2 metres and 3 metres deep and are on average 7 metres wide. Scheduled.
RCHME: Durham SAMs Project 1991; Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
Durham Magnesian Limestone Survey 1983 - 1984; Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
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