Norton Camp, Iron Age hillfort in Norton Fitzwarren, England
Norton Camp is an Iron Age hillfort located near Norton Fitzwarren in Somerset, occupying a large elevated site with multiple defensive boundaries. The fort contains three distinct entrances connected by ancient pathways that cut through the surrounding earthworks.
The site was first inhabited during the middle Bronze Age before being developed as a fortification in the late Iron Age. Archaeological digs conducted in the late 1960s uncovered artifacts from both periods, revealing the extended occupation and use of this location over many centuries.
The fort's location between two tribal territories indicates its function as a meeting point for different communities during the Late Iron Age period.
Access to the site is available via designated walking trails that wind through the fort. Wear appropriate footwear as the hillside terrain can be muddy and uneven, particularly after rainfall.
The fort is marked by three ancient sunken pathways carved deeply into the hillside, creating distinctive corridors that developed through centuries of repeated use. These hollow ways offer a striking example of how constant foot traffic shaped the landscape over time.
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