King's Castle, Iron Age enclosed hilltop settlement in Somerset, England
King's Castle is an ancient hillfort and archaeological site in St Cuthbert Out, a defended settlement from the Iron Age on elevated ground. The remains show ramparts and ditches that were once built from earth and stone to protect the inhabitants.
The settlement was built during the Iron Age, many centuries before present times, when people constructed defended hilltop places. The location was chosen strategically to watch over the valley below and provide protection from threats.
The name King's Castle suggests a place of leadership or importance in ancient times. Today, visitors can observe how the elevated hilltop was used as a gathering place where the community could organize and defend itself.
The site is accessible on foot and can be visited without admission, with paths that follow the outlines of the old ramparts. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and potentially wet conditions, so sturdy footwear and weather protection are advisable.
Excavations have uncovered tools and pottery from the Iron Age, offering direct clues to the daily life of former inhabitants. These artifacts reveal how people lived and worked before time erased their traces.
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