The Timberscombe Hill Fort Walk, 5 June 2019
Title
The Timberscombe Hill Fort Walk, 5 June 2019
Subject
Description
The gentleman in the foreground of the upper photograph is Rob Wilson-North, Head of Conservation & Access of the Exmoor National Park Authority, better known as ENPA. The date of this photograph is 5 June 2019 and Mr. Wilson-North had led a group on a walk to the Timberscombe Hill Fort, situated southwest of the village of Timberscombe.
The hill fort, of Iron Age origin from 3,000 to 4,000 years earlier, was re-discovered and reported to ENPA in 1992 (1). It was situated, at the time, in a woodland almost completely covered with dense and mature larch, a coniferous tree with deciduous bright green needles, known for their extremely tough wood and resin, which yields turpentine (2).
By 1994 the site had been investigated and acquired by ENPA. Then, following an extremely wet winter, several months of felling the larch and clearing of the land began. On this remote and somewhat steep site, that was made possible by the use of heavy horses, as pictured at SP-182 (3). In September 1995, a detailed earthwork survey was completed, followed in the early 2000's by geophysical and geochemical surveys, culminating with the discovery of iron slag at the location (4).
The presence of iron slag indicated there had been the smelting (or smithing) of iron at this site. Slag is the by-product (or waste matter) created by the separating of iron from natural ore and to do this, there would have had to have been an Iron Age furnace at this location. The processing of iron cannot be said to have been found anywhere else in Exmoor (5).
The fact that this was done in such a remote area suggests a forge, perhaps kept secret and likely with its main function being to produce weapons. At Gallox Hill, in nearby Dunster, were other hill forts such as Bats Castle and Black Ball Camp, more populated and often at war (6). A small and secluded forge may have been necessary for an uninterrupted production of the sort of tools essential for survival and the means of continued growth and power.
By 2010, archaeological excavation was in process at the Timberscombe Hill Fort and an Open Day was held by ENPA (7). Yet the presence of an ancient hill fort within a 25 minute walk from the village centre remained somewhat shrouded. In 2018, Marion Jeffrey organized the St. Petrock's History Group and Rob Wilson-North was invited to be the speaker at its third meeting, on Monday 19 November 2018.
The second photograph, taken by Richard Jeffrey, was taken at that meeting. The talk was well-received by a capacity crowd and Mr. Wilson-North agreed to return for a second engagement, not at night and at a warmer time of year, as it was to be held as a guided walk to the Timberscombe Hill Fort.
The walk with Rob Wilson-North was held on 5 June 2019. The third photograph records members of the St. Petrock's History Group, as well as guests from Wootton Courtenay and one dog, gathering at the church. Mr. Wilson-North holds a folder on the left end of the group. This photograph, as well as the top and bottom photographs, were taken by Marion Jeffrey.
The bottom photograph depicts some participants of the expedition on site with Rob Wilson-North. He was able to point out specifics of the hill-fort, including where the iron slag was found (indicating the location of the forge) and the ditch and bank--unusually at Timberscombe, created at the site's centre. Normally at a hill fort, a ditch was built with the soil, dug out to create the ditch and left to form a bank alongside it. Ditches and banks at a hill fort--especially with several of them wrapped around lower parts of the hill --could provide a defense mechanism, as attackers would have to scramble across and over them (8). Here, the central ditch and bank may have been utilized to route water and/or waste to and from the forge and any other enclosures. Mr. Wilson-North was also able to point out the hill fort's natural boundaries, where fencing may have been and how the steepness of the hill-fort kept it somewhat hidden from the uninvited, but offered far-reaching views (perhaps of those uninvited, approaching) for any inhabitants or workers on the site. The latter is somewhat suggested by this photograph. SP-182 includes an artist's rendering, supplied by ENPA, that suggests how the hill fort may have looked in the Iron Age.
The hill fort, of Iron Age origin from 3,000 to 4,000 years earlier, was re-discovered and reported to ENPA in 1992 (1). It was situated, at the time, in a woodland almost completely covered with dense and mature larch, a coniferous tree with deciduous bright green needles, known for their extremely tough wood and resin, which yields turpentine (2).
By 1994 the site had been investigated and acquired by ENPA. Then, following an extremely wet winter, several months of felling the larch and clearing of the land began. On this remote and somewhat steep site, that was made possible by the use of heavy horses, as pictured at SP-182 (3). In September 1995, a detailed earthwork survey was completed, followed in the early 2000's by geophysical and geochemical surveys, culminating with the discovery of iron slag at the location (4).
The presence of iron slag indicated there had been the smelting (or smithing) of iron at this site. Slag is the by-product (or waste matter) created by the separating of iron from natural ore and to do this, there would have had to have been an Iron Age furnace at this location. The processing of iron cannot be said to have been found anywhere else in Exmoor (5).
The fact that this was done in such a remote area suggests a forge, perhaps kept secret and likely with its main function being to produce weapons. At Gallox Hill, in nearby Dunster, were other hill forts such as Bats Castle and Black Ball Camp, more populated and often at war (6). A small and secluded forge may have been necessary for an uninterrupted production of the sort of tools essential for survival and the means of continued growth and power.
By 2010, archaeological excavation was in process at the Timberscombe Hill Fort and an Open Day was held by ENPA (7). Yet the presence of an ancient hill fort within a 25 minute walk from the village centre remained somewhat shrouded. In 2018, Marion Jeffrey organized the St. Petrock's History Group and Rob Wilson-North was invited to be the speaker at its third meeting, on Monday 19 November 2018.
The second photograph, taken by Richard Jeffrey, was taken at that meeting. The talk was well-received by a capacity crowd and Mr. Wilson-North agreed to return for a second engagement, not at night and at a warmer time of year, as it was to be held as a guided walk to the Timberscombe Hill Fort.
The walk with Rob Wilson-North was held on 5 June 2019. The third photograph records members of the St. Petrock's History Group, as well as guests from Wootton Courtenay and one dog, gathering at the church. Mr. Wilson-North holds a folder on the left end of the group. This photograph, as well as the top and bottom photographs, were taken by Marion Jeffrey.
The bottom photograph depicts some participants of the expedition on site with Rob Wilson-North. He was able to point out specifics of the hill-fort, including where the iron slag was found (indicating the location of the forge) and the ditch and bank--unusually at Timberscombe, created at the site's centre. Normally at a hill fort, a ditch was built with the soil, dug out to create the ditch and left to form a bank alongside it. Ditches and banks at a hill fort--especially with several of them wrapped around lower parts of the hill --could provide a defense mechanism, as attackers would have to scramble across and over them (8). Here, the central ditch and bank may have been utilized to route water and/or waste to and from the forge and any other enclosures. Mr. Wilson-North was also able to point out the hill fort's natural boundaries, where fencing may have been and how the steepness of the hill-fort kept it somewhat hidden from the uninvited, but offered far-reaching views (perhaps of those uninvited, approaching) for any inhabitants or workers on the site. The latter is somewhat suggested by this photograph. SP-182 includes an artist's rendering, supplied by ENPA, that suggests how the hill fort may have looked in the Iron Age.
Creator
Marion Jeffrey /
Richard Jeffrey /
Marion Jeffrey /
Marion Jeffrey
Richard Jeffrey /
Marion Jeffrey /
Marion Jeffrey
Source
Date
5 June 2019
19 November 2018
5 June 2019
5 June 2019
19 November 2018
5 June 2019
5 June 2019
Format
Language
English
Identifier
Timberscombe Hill Fort walk, led by Rob Wilson-North, 5 June 2019 / Timberscombe / southwest of the village
Acquisition Date
2018 and 2019
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Archaeological sites / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2021
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
9.5 X 8
9 X 16
11.5 X 18.5
8.5 X 18
9 X 16
11.5 X 18.5
8.5 X 18
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) "The Archaeology of Timberscombe Hill Fort", presented by Rob Wilson-North, Head of Conservation & Access for Exmoor National Park Authority, for St. Petrock's History Group at St. Petrock's Church, Timberscombe, 19 November 2018 (2) Dictionary.com (3) Exmoor Review, Volume 37, The Journal of Exmoor Society, Parish Rooms, Dulverton, Somerset, 1996, Pages 79 and 80 (4) "The Archaeology of Timberscombe Hill Fort" (5) britannica.com and "The Archaeology of Timberscombe Hill Fort" (6) Historic Environment Record, Exmoor National Park, MSO9082, , visit-exmoor.co.uk and historicengland.org.uk (7) The Megalithic Portal, megalithic.co.uk (8) thefield.co.uk
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2021
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
Item Reference
SP-183
Technique
Copies
Citation
Marion Jeffrey /
Richard Jeffrey /
Marion Jeffrey /
Marion Jeffrey, “The Timberscombe Hill Fort Walk, 5 June 2019,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 5, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3459.
Comments