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SIGWELLS CAMP

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DESCRIPTION

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Alleged promotary fort - probably natural. Mesolithic to Iron Age finds

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[ST 6405 2365] (1) At Sigwells is a small triangular
camp formed by a ditch 60 ft. wide cutting across the hill
connecting two ravines which join at the obtuse angle of the
camp to the north-west. No bank is visible but it may have been
destroyed, or the upcast from the ditch used to raise the level
of the interior.

In 1878 the Rev. J.A. Bennett found flint flakes, scrapers, two
leaf-shaped arrowheads and part of a bone weaving comb of
Glastonbury type inside the camp. These finds are now in Taunton
Museum and also a fragment of I.A.'B' ornamented pottery.

Lane-Fox suggested that the camp was earlier than the adjacent
B.A. barrow, [ST 62 SW 4] because the barrow overlooks the
defences, but the camp appears to be a typical promotory fort
with I.A. 'B' material. No evidence of an earthwork has been
seen by C.E. Bean (6). (1-6)

The feature described as a 'camp' is a triangular area of less
than 0.4 acres situated on the edge of a sandstone plateau and
centred at ST 6404 2364. It is bounded on the north and west by
deep natural ravines, and cut off from the plateau to the
south-east by a gully some 20 m. wide and 3.0 m. deep. If this is
wholly or partly artificial it is a small earthwork of very
great natural strength. But although the sandstone is very soft
and easily eroded, or dug away, the great size of the gully and
the absence of an associated bank suggest that it is a natural
feature.

Even if the gully is partly artificial its classification as a
promontory fort is doubtful. The area enclosed is extremely small
and the finding of a weaving comb and a single sherd of pottery,
(Taunton Museum Acc. Nos. A162-3), are hardly proof of settlement.

Surveyed at 1:2500
Taunton Museum have flints collected from 'Sigwells Camp'
by Rev. Bennett and King's College Arch. Soc. (Acc. Nos. A2358,
2444, 2484 and 2573). A large number of Mes. - B.A. Flints have
been collected from the 'camp' and the surface of field to the
south. Some are in the possession of Mr. C.E. Bean of Sherbourne
and Mrs. Dare of Charlton, Horethorne. (7)

The complete absence of upcast and general scarp profile of the
now overgrown gulley, strongly suggest that the feature known
as 'Sigwells Camp' has resulted from sand digging. (8)

Mesolithic artefacts from 'Horethorne' in Eton College Museum
(identified by map reference with the Sigwells site): 1 core,
8 blades or flakes, 4 scrapers, 1 other item. Mesolithic artefacts
from 'Sigwell Camp' in Taunton Museum: 3 cores, 23 blades or
flakes. Mesolithic artefacts from the surface at 'Sigwell Farm'
in C E Bean Collection: Tranchet axe sharpening flake, c 300
blades or flakes, c 30 scrapers, c 2 microliths. (9)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) General reference

P. Som. A.&N.H.S. 24, 1879, 84-8, (Lane-Fox)

( 2) General reference

P Somer A & NHS 49, 1903. 178-9 (H.St.George Grey)

( 3) General reference

P Somer A 6 NHS 59, 1913, Pt. II 10 (H.St.G. Grey)

( 4) General reference

V.C.H. Somer. II 1911, 475

( 5) General reference

APs CPE/UK/1924/1291-2

( 6) General reference

Letter (C.E.Bean, 6.12.64.)

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F1 GHP 17-NOV-66

( 8) Field Investigators Comments

F2 JWS 12-JUN-75

( 9) General reference

CBA Res Rep 20 1977 Gaz Me Sites (Ed J J Wymer) 245

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