Hembury, Iron Age hillfort near Honiton, United Kingdom
Hembury is an Iron Age hillfort located on a 240-meter high ridge in the Blackdown Hills overlooking the River Otter valley. The site features three defensive earthwork ramparts with intervening ditches that form a complex fortification structure.
Excavations between 1930 and 1935 led by Dorothy Liddell uncovered evidence of Neolithic settlement, including pottery, tools, and remains of timber entrance structures. These findings revealed that the site was occupied in much earlier times before the Iron Age fortification was built.
The site is connected to Hembury ware, an early Neolithic pottery style made from Gabbroic clay brought from Cornwall. Visitors can see traces of this ancient occupation that reveal how people lived here thousands of years ago.
The fort is relatively easy to reach on foot, and the slopes offer good vantage points across the surrounding landscape. The ground can become slippery after rain, so sturdy footwear and care on the steep slopes are advisable.
Geophysical surveys conducted in 2016 using magnetic gradiometry and earth resistance techniques revealed hidden details of the fort's internal structure without disturbing the ground. These non-invasive methods allowed archaeologists to identify features that might otherwise have been destroyed through excavation.
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