Flodden Hill Iron Age/Romano-British farmstead, Flodden Hill (Ford)
(NT 9135 3572) Camp. [L.B.] (1)
Near circular earthwork of two ramparts, 120 yds, and 90 yds diameter respectively. (2)
Two irregular-shaped, native enclosures of 2 acres, and 1 acre. (3)
The bivallate earthwork is poorly defined, and obscured by trees. Both 'ramparts' (earth and stone banks little more than 0.4m high) are extensively mutilated, but in the main, traceable. The interior is filled by the 16th century redoubt (NT 93 NW 19), and no other structures are apparent. Abutting the west side is a large annexe of similar construction, also mutilated by reafforestation. The whole is of a pre-Roman character. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (4)
Condition unchanged. (5)
A programme of archaeological trenching, excavation and test pitting was carried out as part of the Flodden500 Project in five locations. The investigations on Scot's Camp (Flodden Hill Site 1) were carried out between 2009 and 2015 and comprised 17 trenches. The enclosure was dated to the late Iron Age/Romano-British date with an eastern entranceway. The absence of an external ditch was attributed to the shallow depth of the bedrock and the likelihood that the rampart formed the defence. The inner rampart comprised a clay-cored bank c. 2.5-3.6m in width, revetted with large boulders externally and rubble internally. There was evidence that the rampart facing stones had been removed or pulled askew at an unknown date. Three stone "tunnels" of post-medieval date were recorded cutting through the rampart which have been interpreted as an artificial fox-earth. Although there was no excavated evidence of internal occupation of the enclosure, only c.2.4% of the area was investigated by trenching. (6)
Excavations in 2012-15 as part of the Flodden500 project looked to investigate the claim that a 16th century redoubt stood on Flodden Hill (see HER 1826). The results show that the earliest earthworks on the hill seem to be those of a bivallate hillfort. Its ramparts are now low, spread mounds with a later rectilinear inner enclosure that measures about 56m east-west by 41m north-south internally; the inner enclosure was the focus of excavation.
Trenches 2 and 16 revealed the south-eastern rampart which comprised a clay core (with two possible postholes) revetted externally with large boulders and an inner face of smaller stones, together about 2.5m to 3m wide. Rubble on the bank suggests the revetments were once higher. Inside the rampart was a ledge 1.5m wide, possibly the true inner face of the rampart or a kerb forming part of a stepped inner face. Trench 3 revealed an entrance through the east rampart, approached by a hollow way. It was partly flanked by possible defensive hornworks and a number of postholes suggest upright timbers may have been incorporated. The entrance was later narrowed by the addition of a stone blocking the north side and was subsequently choked with rubble - whether through deliberate slighting or collapse is unknown. A radiocarbon date from a burnt deposit under the revetment, north of the entrance yielded a date of 7-131AD (late Iron Age/Romano-British period). Another radiocarbon date from flecks of charcoal found between the inner enclosure and the earlier bivallate hillfort ramparts produced a date of 175-1BC.
Trench 5, on the north-east corner of the inner enclosure, was first investigated in 2009 and again in 2012-15. The initial interpretation of a feature as the side of a corner bastion was disproved in 2012. The feature was a stone revetment up to three courses high, with a bank of stony clay behind, dipping down to a possible ditch; it appears to represent the inner of the bivallate hillfort ramparts. Also found in Trench 5 were later stone features, or 'tunnels'. Charcoal samples from their fills produced radiocarbon dates of 47BC-AD70, 164-128BC and 360-271BC; they are thought to derive from disturbed Iron Age/Romano-British deposits. The 'tunnels' themselves remain undated but may be artificial fox earths dating anytime from the late 18th to early 20th century. The outer north face of the inner enclosure rampart appears significantly disturbed, possibly when the track over the hill was made in the second half of the 19th century. (7)
Near circular earthwork of two ramparts, 120 yds, and 90 yds diameter respectively. (2)
Two irregular-shaped, native enclosures of 2 acres, and 1 acre. (3)
The bivallate earthwork is poorly defined, and obscured by trees. Both 'ramparts' (earth and stone banks little more than 0.4m high) are extensively mutilated, but in the main, traceable. The interior is filled by the 16th century redoubt (NT 93 NW 19), and no other structures are apparent. Abutting the west side is a large annexe of similar construction, also mutilated by reafforestation. The whole is of a pre-Roman character. Published survey (25 inch) revised. (4)
Condition unchanged. (5)
A programme of archaeological trenching, excavation and test pitting was carried out as part of the Flodden500 Project in five locations. The investigations on Scot's Camp (Flodden Hill Site 1) were carried out between 2009 and 2015 and comprised 17 trenches. The enclosure was dated to the late Iron Age/Romano-British date with an eastern entranceway. The absence of an external ditch was attributed to the shallow depth of the bedrock and the likelihood that the rampart formed the defence. The inner rampart comprised a clay-cored bank c. 2.5-3.6m in width, revetted with large boulders externally and rubble internally. There was evidence that the rampart facing stones had been removed or pulled askew at an unknown date. Three stone "tunnels" of post-medieval date were recorded cutting through the rampart which have been interpreted as an artificial fox-earth. Although there was no excavated evidence of internal occupation of the enclosure, only c.2.4% of the area was investigated by trenching. (6)
Excavations in 2012-15 as part of the Flodden500 project looked to investigate the claim that a 16th century redoubt stood on Flodden Hill (see HER 1826). The results show that the earliest earthworks on the hill seem to be those of a bivallate hillfort. Its ramparts are now low, spread mounds with a later rectilinear inner enclosure that measures about 56m east-west by 41m north-south internally; the inner enclosure was the focus of excavation.
Trenches 2 and 16 revealed the south-eastern rampart which comprised a clay core (with two possible postholes) revetted externally with large boulders and an inner face of smaller stones, together about 2.5m to 3m wide. Rubble on the bank suggests the revetments were once higher. Inside the rampart was a ledge 1.5m wide, possibly the true inner face of the rampart or a kerb forming part of a stepped inner face. Trench 3 revealed an entrance through the east rampart, approached by a hollow way. It was partly flanked by possible defensive hornworks and a number of postholes suggest upright timbers may have been incorporated. The entrance was later narrowed by the addition of a stone blocking the north side and was subsequently choked with rubble - whether through deliberate slighting or collapse is unknown. A radiocarbon date from a burnt deposit under the revetment, north of the entrance yielded a date of 7-131AD (late Iron Age/Romano-British period). Another radiocarbon date from flecks of charcoal found between the inner enclosure and the earlier bivallate hillfort ramparts produced a date of 175-1BC.
Trench 5, on the north-east corner of the inner enclosure, was first investigated in 2009 and again in 2012-15. The initial interpretation of a feature as the side of a corner bastion was disproved in 2012. The feature was a stone revetment up to three courses high, with a bank of stony clay behind, dipping down to a possible ditch; it appears to represent the inner of the bivallate hillfort ramparts. Also found in Trench 5 were later stone features, or 'tunnels'. Charcoal samples from their fills produced radiocarbon dates of 47BC-AD70, 164-128BC and 360-271BC; they are thought to derive from disturbed Iron Age/Romano-British deposits. The 'tunnels' themselves remain undated but may be artificial fox earths dating anytime from the late 18th to early 20th century. The outer north face of the inner enclosure rampart appears significantly disturbed, possibly when the track over the hill was made in the second half of the 19th century. (7)
N1825
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; N K Blood
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; R W Emsley
EXCAVATION, Flodden Hill and Flodden Field 2015; Northern Counties Archaeological Services
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; R W Emsley
EXCAVATION, Flodden Hill and Flodden Field 2015; Northern Counties Archaeological Services
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.