Craster defended settlement (Craster)
(NU 25511952) Irregular enclosure with single rampart. (1)
Naturally protected on north and west by steep sides of Craster Heugh and on east and south by two parallel ramparts composed of earth and rough stones. Camp is 215 feet long and 102 feet wide with modern gap in south east corner. (2)(3)
There has been a circular dwelling at north end. (4)
NU25521954. A triangular shaped earthwork situated on the edge of some crags in a defensive position. It consists of a single rampart running parallel with the crags on the southern half of the west side, a single rampart on the south side - this is by far the strongest bank being c.3m high - with a line of stones set on edge forming a wall down the bank, and a single lynchet bank and outer rampart along the north east side - a small bank gives an added defence at the north east angle. The banks of stone and earth vary in height from 0.3m to 3m and from 1m to 8m in width; a simple entrance is at the south east corner. There are no internal dwellings and although the interior has been much disturbed by moles, there are no traces of any occupation or artifacts. The earthwork is of a simple form, defensive, and is of probable native origin.
There is no trace of the circular dwelling at the north end. An adequate water supply is available. (5)
Listed under pre-Roman Iron Age univallate [forts, settlements and enclosures]. (6)
The site, although only 100ft in elevation, is clearly defensive, and the construction of the work is in the local Iron Age tradition. It seems likely that the two scarps on the north east side represent a bivallate system, the outer one being much reduced; but the small section of bank noted at the north east angle by Authority 5 appears to be more in keeping with the remains of MacLauchlan's 'circular dwelling' (possibly a secondary hut) than with additional defence. Surveyed at 1/2500. (7)
Scheduled. (8)
An Iron Age/Roman hillfort is visible as an earthwork on air photographs, centred at NU 2553 1955. The enclosure is irregular in plan, with only the east and south defences visible, with a maximum internal dimension of 62m. The hillfort is still extant on the latest 1999 Ordnance Survey vertical photography. (9a)
Naturally protected on north and west by steep sides of Craster Heugh and on east and south by two parallel ramparts composed of earth and rough stones. Camp is 215 feet long and 102 feet wide with modern gap in south east corner. (2)(3)
There has been a circular dwelling at north end. (4)
NU25521954. A triangular shaped earthwork situated on the edge of some crags in a defensive position. It consists of a single rampart running parallel with the crags on the southern half of the west side, a single rampart on the south side - this is by far the strongest bank being c.3m high - with a line of stones set on edge forming a wall down the bank, and a single lynchet bank and outer rampart along the north east side - a small bank gives an added defence at the north east angle. The banks of stone and earth vary in height from 0.3m to 3m and from 1m to 8m in width; a simple entrance is at the south east corner. There are no internal dwellings and although the interior has been much disturbed by moles, there are no traces of any occupation or artifacts. The earthwork is of a simple form, defensive, and is of probable native origin.
There is no trace of the circular dwelling at the north end. An adequate water supply is available. (5)
Listed under pre-Roman Iron Age univallate [forts, settlements and enclosures]. (6)
The site, although only 100ft in elevation, is clearly defensive, and the construction of the work is in the local Iron Age tradition. It seems likely that the two scarps on the north east side represent a bivallate system, the outer one being much reduced; but the small section of bank noted at the north east angle by Authority 5 appears to be more in keeping with the remains of MacLauchlan's 'circular dwelling' (possibly a secondary hut) than with additional defence. Surveyed at 1/2500. (7)
Scheduled. (8)
An Iron Age/Roman hillfort is visible as an earthwork on air photographs, centred at NU 2553 1955. The enclosure is irregular in plan, with only the east and south defences visible, with a maximum internal dimension of 62m. The hillfort is still extant on the latest 1999 Ordnance Survey vertical photography. (9a)
N5667
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; J H Ostridge
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; B H Pritchard
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: North East Coast NMP Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey ; Archaeological Research Services
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1969; B H Pritchard
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: North East Coast NMP Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey ; Archaeological Research Services
FIELD SURVEY, Hill forts and settlements in Northumberland ; G Jobey
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