Burledge Hill, Iron Age hillfort and nature reserve in West Harptree, England
Burledge Hill is an Iron Age hillfort in the Mendip Hills featuring earthwork ramparts and ditches spread across grassland and scrubland. The visible remains show clear patterns from ancient times laid out across the slope.
The hillfort was built during the Iron Age as one of many such structures across southwestern England. Excavations from the 1950s and 1960s revealed pottery, animal remains, and evidence of metalworking within the earthworks.
The hillfort construction reflected social changes during the Bronze to Iron Age transition, marking shifts in trading patterns and impacts on local community structures.
Access is via footpaths that cross the site and provide good views of the earthworks from different angles. The area is open to visitors who want to walk freely and explore the archaeological features on their own pace.
The site hosts several breeding bird species including garden warblers and whitethroats that nest within the unimproved grassland. Birdwatchers often find the spring months rewarding for spotting these species among the vegetation.
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