Croft Ambrey Hillfort, Croft Castle

Summary

Mulitvallate hillfort. Known about since the seventeenth century, and surveyed in the 1930s, 60s and 70s. Evidence for Roman occupation is clear but can be interpreted in a number of different ways.

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Description

Multivallate hillfort, with whole plan preserved. The monument has been known about since the seventeenth century and was surveyed in the 1930s (RCHME 1934). A number of areas excavated between 1960 and 1966 (Stanford 1974a) and since it has regularly featured in synthetic literature at a regional and national level (eg Stanford 1971, 1974b, 1991, Cunliffe 1978, Forde Johnston 1976, Rowley 1986.) The evidence for Roman occupation is clear but can be interpreted in a number of different ways (cf The Mound 7089\01). A management survey of the moument was carried out in 1985 (Alexander et al 1985.)

Analytical survey and investigation of the earthworks at Croft Ambrey has introduced fresh interpretations of site and landscape development. There are just the slightest hints of an earlier genesis for human activity on the hill and while the great boundary constructions excavated in the 1960s by Stan Stanford remain the focus of interest, there is a considerable amount of formerly unreported activity relating to the historic period. The site is seen to be important for its geology, not least as the limestone, its outcrops and the shape of its weathered topography have influenced the form of the earthworks and, no doubt, prehistoric perception of the place. The visible surface engraving can be seen as representing a palimpsest of these activities with the latest invariably both masking and sometimes being influenced by earlier features. There is some evidence that the site served as a deer park, a rabbit warren and also suffered agricultural episodes before being incorporated into a landscape park.

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