East Dod Law hillfort (Doddington)
The most easterly of the three forts on Dod Law (the other two being NU 03 SW 17 and 18) looks more like a stock-enclosure, the ramparts being, in 1924, only about 1-1/2 feet in height. Its defensive position, however, on the summit, and the fact that it is defended by two ramparts, suggest that it should be classified as a fort. It measures some 95 by 75 yards, and the ramparts are of stone. (1)
(NU 00763165) (Plan shows an unnamed feature apparently an oval shaped enclosure with double ramparts. Long axis (north-west/south-east) approximately 100m, short axis (south-west/north-east) approximately 70m). (2)
Faint traces of an elliptical enclosure 80 yards long by 40 yards wide. (3)
East Dod Law. An oval earthwork with single rampart enclosing an area of approx 1-1/2 acres. (4)
Type B2 (Forts on high ground less dependent on natural slopes for protection). (5)
Centred NU 00733163. Situated on the near level summit of a rise approximately 630 feet above sea level. The position is not strong defensively, all the natural slopes being gentle with dead ground in the near vicinity.
This mutilated earthwork consists of an ovoid area enclosed by two concentric ramparts of earth with some stones visible in places. The inner bank is the best preserved with a width varying from 4m to 5m and a maximum height of 0.5m. The outer bank visible only on the west
and north sides with faint traces to the east is 3m to 4m wide with a maximum height 0.4m.
There are three surveyable gaps in the banks, none certainly original except possibly that on the west side which is slightly downhill and which would give access to the lower ground.
There are no obvious traces of habitation in the bracken covered interior of the enclosure.
The non-defensive situation, slight banks and absence of occupation traces, indicate that this enclosure was for stock purposes. There is insufficient evidence for dating purposes. The enclosure may possibly have been associated with two other earthworks nearby (NU 03 SW 10 and 11) the latter of which has Iron Age characteristics.
The nearest water supply is approximately 300m to the south, although a modern well some 250m to the north west suggests an accessible water table.
East Dod Law. Reduced to a faint bank, barely visible on the ground. On the north east the ruins of the rampart partly overly a rock carving. (6)
For the most part only the outward facing scarps of the banks remain and whilst the internal side of the inner bank appears occasionally it remains insignificant or fragmentary. This site is much more vague than Authority 3's report suggests.
The rock carving indicated by Auth. 6 consists of two depressions without associated rings and a few faint grooves, all of which could be due to weathering.
Surveyed at 1/2500. (7)
Enclosure. (8)
Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age univallate (forts, settlements and enclosures). (9)
Conditions unchanged. The remains of the work are slight, but its form and situation support an Iron Age classification, and it is probably a subsidiary enclosure to the nearby fort. (NU 03 SW 18). There are about twenty authentic cup-marks, one with a pecked circle, on the stone at
NU 00793162. (10)
A brief description and a hacheur plan have been published in Northern Archaeology vol.10. Surveyed in 1988. At least two possible slightly scooped hut platforms revealed at NU 00753161 and NU 00733163. Damaged cairn at NU 0079031630, formerly covered a cup and ring marked stone. The stone from the cairn was probably used as part of the wall for East Dod Law enclosure. Situation confused by modern sheep burial amongst stones. (11)
NU 00773165. Dod Law enclosure, outcrop stone with cups and crossed grooves. (12)
Enclosure site (H00431) NU 00773165. Single outcrop rock, difficult to find in the bracken. (13)
Enclosure Site H00431
At 200m, east and southeast of the Main Rock are two enclosures of unknown date.The furthest one, beyond the triangulation pillar, is roughly circular. An outcrop or earthfast rock with motifs is not easy to find in the long bracken. It is at the centre of a destroyed cairn. (14a)
General association with HER 3794 HER 3795. (14)
(NU 00763165) (Plan shows an unnamed feature apparently an oval shaped enclosure with double ramparts. Long axis (north-west/south-east) approximately 100m, short axis (south-west/north-east) approximately 70m). (2)
Faint traces of an elliptical enclosure 80 yards long by 40 yards wide. (3)
East Dod Law. An oval earthwork with single rampart enclosing an area of approx 1-1/2 acres. (4)
Type B2 (Forts on high ground less dependent on natural slopes for protection). (5)
Centred NU 00733163. Situated on the near level summit of a rise approximately 630 feet above sea level. The position is not strong defensively, all the natural slopes being gentle with dead ground in the near vicinity.
This mutilated earthwork consists of an ovoid area enclosed by two concentric ramparts of earth with some stones visible in places. The inner bank is the best preserved with a width varying from 4m to 5m and a maximum height of 0.5m. The outer bank visible only on the west
and north sides with faint traces to the east is 3m to 4m wide with a maximum height 0.4m.
There are three surveyable gaps in the banks, none certainly original except possibly that on the west side which is slightly downhill and which would give access to the lower ground.
There are no obvious traces of habitation in the bracken covered interior of the enclosure.
The non-defensive situation, slight banks and absence of occupation traces, indicate that this enclosure was for stock purposes. There is insufficient evidence for dating purposes. The enclosure may possibly have been associated with two other earthworks nearby (NU 03 SW 10 and 11) the latter of which has Iron Age characteristics.
The nearest water supply is approximately 300m to the south, although a modern well some 250m to the north west suggests an accessible water table.
East Dod Law. Reduced to a faint bank, barely visible on the ground. On the north east the ruins of the rampart partly overly a rock carving. (6)
For the most part only the outward facing scarps of the banks remain and whilst the internal side of the inner bank appears occasionally it remains insignificant or fragmentary. This site is much more vague than Authority 3's report suggests.
The rock carving indicated by Auth. 6 consists of two depressions without associated rings and a few faint grooves, all of which could be due to weathering.
Surveyed at 1/2500. (7)
Enclosure. (8)
Listed as pre-Roman Iron Age univallate (forts, settlements and enclosures). (9)
Conditions unchanged. The remains of the work are slight, but its form and situation support an Iron Age classification, and it is probably a subsidiary enclosure to the nearby fort. (NU 03 SW 18). There are about twenty authentic cup-marks, one with a pecked circle, on the stone at
NU 00793162. (10)
A brief description and a hacheur plan have been published in Northern Archaeology vol.10. Surveyed in 1988. At least two possible slightly scooped hut platforms revealed at NU 00753161 and NU 00733163. Damaged cairn at NU 0079031630, formerly covered a cup and ring marked stone. The stone from the cairn was probably used as part of the wall for East Dod Law enclosure. Situation confused by modern sheep burial amongst stones. (11)
NU 00773165. Dod Law enclosure, outcrop stone with cups and crossed grooves. (12)
Enclosure site (H00431) NU 00773165. Single outcrop rock, difficult to find in the bracken. (13)
Enclosure Site H00431
At 200m, east and southeast of the Main Rock are two enclosures of unknown date.The furthest one, beyond the triangulation pillar, is roughly circular. An outcrop or earthfast rock with motifs is not easy to find in the long bracken. It is at the centre of a destroyed cairn. (14a)
General association with HER 3794 HER 3795. (14)
N3802
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1964; R D Loader
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1968; D Smith
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