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BATHAMPTON CAMP

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An Early Iron Age stock enclosure a and possible Iron Age and Roman field system were excavated in 1904-5, 1952-4 and later. Finds included human and animal remains, pottery and flint flakes. Scheduled.

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[Name centred ST 7745 6502] Bathampton Camp [NR]
[Name centred ST 7725 6543] Field System [NR] (1)

The field system on Bathampton Down was recognised as such in the
early 19th c. (2) though frequently mis-identified as a
'village'. Partly over-lying the field system is the rampart,
formed by a bank with outer ditch, of a feature, originally
mis-identified as part of Wansdyke (3), identified by Crawford
and others as an IA hill fort (4-5) but suggested by Grinsell
to have been an IA stock-enclosure (6) He suggests that the area enclosed was later cultivated. Crawford describes field ways and
other features of the field systems including the stone revetment
to the field banks sometimes mistaken for stone 'avenues' (7)
'Hut-circles' shown on 19th c. plans (see AO/62/313/6 and 8
and MS plan) are no longer visible. The present day extent of
the system is visible on air-photographs (8) but Skinner's
accounts show clearly that it extended further to the south and
west in areas now built upon. (2-8)

The south-west corner of the 'camp' was excavated in 1904-5
under the mistaken impression that it was Wansdyke, and human
and animal remains, potsherds, iron ore and slag, flint scaper
and flakes are recorded (9) IA 'A' and Roman potsherds dug up
near Sham Castle and 'Nutley' were given to Taunton Museum.
1952-4 (10) Skinner excavated patches of dark earth in the area,
finding potsherds, animal bones and charcoal. (9-10)

Bathampton Camp occupies tha flat top of Bathampton Down. On
three sides the natural slopes are moderately strong but on the
south the approach is level.

The earthwork consists of a single scarp on the north and south
with an outer ditch on the west. The perimeter has been quarried
away on the east.

Mr. G. Wainwright recently carried out a small excavation and
established the date of the earthwork as Early Iron Age. He believes
it to be a stock enclosure.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

The field system, with banks and lynchets up to 1.0m high, is
best preserved to the North of Bathampton Camp. (11)

Bathampton Camp appears to be an example of a univallate early
Iron Age fort, but the single rampart appears to have emcompassed
some 80ac., and the huge size and lack of internal buildings
would seem to suggest use as a stock enclosure. Excavation proved
the field system to be of later date than the camp itself. The position to the north is less clear, although some of the field boundaries do appear to overlie the ditch of the fort. RB. sherds of indeterminate date were found overlying the ruins of the stone
rampart. (12)

Additional references. (13-15)

Earthworks on Bathampton Down studied and planned from aerial
photographs by C. Stephens. A geophysical survey was also carried out. Early in the Iron Age a sub-rectangular area was enclosed by a
drystone rampart and ditch. It is not very defensive. The E side has
been lost in C18 quarrying. At a later stage another rampart was
built across the SE corner of the original enclosure. There is no
direct dating evidence for the field system, but finds have been of
Roman date. To the SE is an undated drystone enclosure built on a
lynchet. Further earthworks to the SW were not plotted. (See illus
card for plan). (16)

ST 774650: Batheaston Camp, a large univallate site of roughly
rectangular shape. Defences in poor condition. (17)

A rapid examination of air photography (18a) shows the field system and associated features. (18)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6", 1961.

( 2) Externally held archive reference

BM Add MSS 33671, 33673, many refs (Rev. J. Skinner)

( 3) General reference

The Mystery of Wansdyke 1923 (Albany Featherstonehaugh Major)

( 4) O G S Crawford and Alexander Keiller 1928 Wessex from the air

1928 Page(s)144

( 5) General reference

Earthworks of England, Fig.89, p.262, (A.H. Allcroft)

( 6) by L V Grinsell 1958 The archaeology of Wessex : an account of Wessex antiquities from the earliest times to the end of the pagan-Saxon period, with special reference to existing field monuments

1958 Page(s)142,144,146,164

( 7) University of Bristol Spelaeological Society proceedings

8 - 1957-8 Page(s)110

( 8) Aerial photograph

APs: CPE/UK/1868/4206-7, dated 4.12.46

( 9) Somerset archaeology and natural history : the proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society

(H.H. Winwood) 1904-8 Page(s)55

(10) Somerset archaeology and natural history : the proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society

98 - 1953 Page(s)8

(11a) General reference

G. Wainwright (M.O.W.).

(11) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JP 18-MAR-66

(12) Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society

(G.J.Wainright). 86 - 1967 Page(s)42-59

(13) by Edward J Burrow 1924 Ancient earthworks and camps of Somerset

19 Page(s)50-51

(14) Scheduled Monument Notification

DOE SAM Rec Form 29-Oct 1986

(15) by R Iles 1984 Avon's past from the air

1984 Page(s)10

(16) Bristol & Avon Archaeological Society Bristol & Avon archaeology

(R Iles) 2 - 1983 Page(s)48-9

(17) BAR British series

(I Burrow) 91 - 1981 Page(s)204-5

(18) RCHME/EH Aerial Photographers Comment

Andrew Miller/28-JUL-1993/RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project

(18a) Aerial photograph

NMR, ST 7565/1/91-2; ST 7665/1; ST 7765/1-8

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MONUMENT NO. 204162
BATHAMPTON

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A number of Neolithic and Bronze Age flint implements have been found just outside the south west corner of Bathampton Down Camp (ST 76 NE 1). See ST ...

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