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TAPS COMBE CAMP

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A promontory Iron Age fort or Iron Age-Roman defended settlement. The enclosure is 2 acres in extent with a single bank to the west, a scarp, ditch and slight outer bank on the north and a stronger bank and ditch on the east. The south side has a steep natural slope pitted with numerous small quarries. Scheduled.

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(ST 47806708). Tap's Combe Camp. A small promontory
fortress enclosing about 2 acres with a single bank to the west, a
scarp, ditch and slight outer bank on the north and a stronger bank
and ditch on the east. The south side has a steep natural slope
pitted with numerous small quarries. The entrance, in the NW corner,
has a covered approach protected by two parallel banks. (1-2)

Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)

ST 47806708. A probable IA/RB defended settlement (striking similar
to Cleeve Toot enclosure ST 46 NE 1) occupying the NW end of a
wooded spur at 250ft OD with the very steep side of Tap's Combe
forming a natural defence on the SW side; gentle hill slopes occur
on the NW and NE Side.

The semi-circular enclosure, internally 140.0m NW/SE by 80.0m NE/SW,
is formed by a now tree covered, though generally well preserved,
bank of stony construction varying from W to E respectively between
3.0m and 2.2m high externally and 0.6m to 1.5m internally, with an
outer silted ditch 0.2m deep on the W and 1.0m deep on the E side.

A 0.5m deep sunken approach way to the NW entrance is now very
mutilated; another, possibly original, gap occurs in a corresponding
position on the E side.

No hut sites are visible within the grass and part coppice covered
interior which now almost entirely forms a private garden.

AM survey 1:2500 revised and transferred to PFD. (4)

The enclosure interior is now used as a garden and the embanked
hollow-way approach from the NW blocked and mutilated. There are
traces of stone wall in places along the bank, but the whole site
is subject to piece-meal damage from gardening and domestic
activities. (5)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) University of Bristol Spelaeological Society proceedings

(M Thornburn) 2 pt 3 - 1925 Page(s)279-80

( 2) Aerial photograph

APs (RAF 106G/UK/1661/3302-3 13.7.46)

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 12-APR-62

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F2 JWS 31-AUG-76

( 5) BAR British series

Hillfort & Hilltop Sett Somer 1st-8th Cent AD (I Burrow) 91 - 1981 Page(s)244

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