Oakmere hill fort
Encyclopedia
Oakmere hill fort is an Iron Age
hill fort
, one of many large fortified settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age, but one of only seven in the county of Cheshire
in northern England. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument
. Despite being a low lying site, Oakmere is still considered a hill fort.
. The reason for their emergence in Britain, and their purpose, has been a subject of debate. It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe, sites built by invaders, or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture. The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain. Deposits of iron ore were located in different places to the tin and copper ore necessary to make bronze, and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status. Power passed into the hands of a new group of people. Archaeologist
Barry Cunliffe
believes that population increase still played a role and has stated that "[the forts] provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress [of an increasing population] burst out into open warfare. But I wouldn't see them as having been built because there was a state of war. They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed, but this was not the only, or even the most significant, factor in their construction".
is on its own in the south); Oakmere hill fort is in the southern group with Eddisbury hill fort
and Kelsborrow Castle
. Located at , Oakmere, in common with all of the hill forts in Cheshire, sits on part of the central ridge that runs north–south through the county. A low lying site, Oakmere hill fort is on a triangular area of land projecting into a mere
, also called Oakmere.
Today, the waters of the mere are 10 ft (3 m) below the defences at the south-western end of the site, with a 35 ft (10.7 m) gap between the edge of the mere and the defences; however when the hill fort was built the water-level would have been higher and closer to the scarp, offering the site natural defences. Ramparts were thrown up around the south-west and north sides of the site, creating an arc, and a ditch was created in front of the rampart. The bank survives to a height of 6 ft (1.8 m) and, at its deepest point, the ditch is now 6 ft (1.8 m) deep although it was originally 10 ft (3 m) deep; the distance between the inner edge of the bank and the outer edge of the ditch is 100 ft (30.5 m). The depth of the ditch is not uniform, indicating that either the hill fort was unfinished or perhaps bearing testament to an attempt by the inhabitants of Oakmere hill fort to re-excavate and deepen the ditch. The entrance to the site was in the southern end of the defences and is similar to the entrances of Bradley
, Helsby
, and Kelsborrow
hill forts.
James Forde-Johnston; the excavation focused on the site's southern defences and showed that the ditch was 50 ft (15.2 m) wide at its zenith and originally 10 ft (3 m) deep in places. The site has been disturbed and there are two modern breaks in the defences. The structure was made a Scheduled Ancient Monument
in 1995, giving Oakmere protection against unauthorised change.
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
, one of many large fortified settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age, but one of only seven in the county of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
in northern England. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
. Despite being a low lying site, Oakmere is still considered a hill fort.
Background
Hill forts developed in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, roughly the start of the first millennium BC1st millennium BC
The 1st millennium BC encompasses the Iron Age and sees the rise of many successive empires, and spanned from 1000 BC to 1 BC.The Neo-Assyrian Empire, followed by the Achaemenids. In Greece, Classical Antiquity begins with the colonization of Magna Graecia and peaks with the rise of Hellenism. The...
. The reason for their emergence in Britain, and their purpose, has been a subject of debate. It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe, sites built by invaders, or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture. The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain. Deposits of iron ore were located in different places to the tin and copper ore necessary to make bronze, and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status. Power passed into the hands of a new group of people. Archaeologist
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
Barry Cunliffe
Barry Cunliffe
Sir Barrington Windsor Cunliffe, CBE, known professionally as Barry Cunliffe is a former Professor of European Archaeology at the University of Oxford, a position held from 1972 to 2007...
believes that population increase still played a role and has stated that "[the forts] provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress [of an increasing population] burst out into open warfare. But I wouldn't see them as having been built because there was a state of war. They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed, but this was not the only, or even the most significant, factor in their construction".
Location and layout
Although there are over 1,300 hill forts in England, they are concentrated in the south of the country, with only seven in Cheshire. There are two groups of hill forts in the county, each with three members (Maiden CastleMaiden Castle, Cheshire
Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hill fort, one of many fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age, but one of only seven in the county of Cheshire in northern England. The hill fort was probably occupied from its construction in 600 BC until the Roman conquest...
is on its own in the south); Oakmere hill fort is in the southern group with Eddisbury hill fort
Eddisbury hill fort
Eddisbury hill fort, also known as Castle Ditch, is an Iron Age hill fort near Delamere, Cheshire, in northern England. Hill forts are fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age. Eddisbury is the largest and most complex of the seven hill forts in the county of...
and Kelsborrow Castle
Kelsborrow Castle
Kelsborrow Castle is an Iron Age hill fort. Hill forts were fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age. It is one of only seven hill forts in the county of Cheshire in northern England and was probably in use for only a short time. In the 19th century, a bronze...
. Located at , Oakmere, in common with all of the hill forts in Cheshire, sits on part of the central ridge that runs north–south through the county. A low lying site, Oakmere hill fort is on a triangular area of land projecting into a mere
Mere (lake)
Mere in English refers to a lake that is broad in relation to its depth, e.g. Martin Mere. A significant effect of its shallow depth is that for all or most of the time, it has no thermocline.- Etymology :...
, also called Oakmere.
Today, the waters of the mere are 10 ft (3 m) below the defences at the south-western end of the site, with a 35 ft (10.7 m) gap between the edge of the mere and the defences; however when the hill fort was built the water-level would have been higher and closer to the scarp, offering the site natural defences. Ramparts were thrown up around the south-west and north sides of the site, creating an arc, and a ditch was created in front of the rampart. The bank survives to a height of 6 ft (1.8 m) and, at its deepest point, the ditch is now 6 ft (1.8 m) deep although it was originally 10 ft (3 m) deep; the distance between the inner edge of the bank and the outer edge of the ditch is 100 ft (30.5 m). The depth of the ditch is not uniform, indicating that either the hill fort was unfinished or perhaps bearing testament to an attempt by the inhabitants of Oakmere hill fort to re-excavate and deepen the ditch. The entrance to the site was in the southern end of the defences and is similar to the entrances of Bradley
Bradley hill fort
Bradley hill fort is an Iron Age hill fort. Hill forts were fortified hill-tops, used as settlements or temporary refuges, constructed across Britain during the Iron Age. It is the smallest of the seven hill forts in the county of Cheshire in northern England...
, Helsby
Helsby hill fort
thumb|right|250px|Helsby hill fortHelsby hill fort is an Iron Age hillfort to the east of Helsby. Helsby Hill has steep cliffs on the northern and western sides, providing a natural semicircular defence. Double rampart earthworks extend to the south and east to provide protection to those flanks...
, and Kelsborrow
Kelsborrow Castle
Kelsborrow Castle is an Iron Age hill fort. Hill forts were fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age. It is one of only seven hill forts in the county of Cheshire in northern England and was probably in use for only a short time. In the 19th century, a bronze...
hill forts.
History
In 1960, Oakmere hill fort was excavated by archaeologistArchaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
James Forde-Johnston; the excavation focused on the site's southern defences and showed that the ditch was 50 ft (15.2 m) wide at its zenith and originally 10 ft (3 m) deep in places. The site has been disturbed and there are two modern breaks in the defences. The structure was made a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
in 1995, giving Oakmere protection against unauthorised change.