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[SC 25946846] Fort [NR] (1)
Remains of a fort. Two entrenchments about 67 yards diameter. (2)
Both sites were excavated by internees during the war under the
direction of Dr. Bersu. Site A - SC 25946846 [becomes the type stie
for the Isle of Man]. Site B - SC 25996845 was similar to A.
A. has the appearance of a typical rath consisting of a broad and dampcircular depression with inner low broad bank around three quarters ofthe circumference of a level circular area defined by a narrow ditch
of varing depth. the area enclosed within these works has a diameter
of 120 feet with a low bank surrounding it.
The outer depression was found to be a ditch 30 feet wide x 3 feet
deep and was used for drainage purposes. The inner ditch was merely aquarry for the inner bank.
The internal area showed several thousand postholes found in the
underlying sand with many of the oak stumps remaining. At differing
levels clay floors, pavements and hearths were found indicating a longperiod of habitation with 3 separate constructions.
Under the outer edge of the inner bank was an incompletely excavated
ring, ring 1, of 4 inches diam. posts 2 - 5 feet apart. At the foot ofthe inner slope of this bank, ring 2 was a continuous row of stout
rectangular posts 4-6 inches thick.
Then follow concentric rings of stronger posts.
In the middle of the structure was the hearth and the floor was partlywood, partly clay and partly cobbled - the latter leading to the main
entrance in the S.E. The inner banks and ditches have causeways at
the entrances.
Either the 2nd., - average 45 feet radius from the hearth - or the 6th- average 25 feet radius from the hearth - ring of inner posts may
have served as the outside wall of the house with only the inner area
being roofed. If ring 6 was the house wall then rings 2-6 could be
regarded as a courtyard and ring 2 as a stockade but it seems more
likely that the entire area, ring 2 - was roofed - an area of 6,000
square feet. The roof was dome shaped and of earth sods - probabley
with a hole over the hearth.
The outer ring - ring 1 - of posts served as a protective fence to
prevent damage by livestock etc. to the structure. This type of site
is characteristic and almost certainly the house of one important
(?chieftain) farming or family community with its cattle sheds under
the same roof.
Finds were few but indicated a predominant stock raising community
with domestic textile and metal working - rotary querns indicated corngrowing. These date the occupation to the 1st centuries A.D. - no
doubt by a Celtic race.
Comparable earthworks in MAN are found near the fresh water which is
essential to cattle raising - there are at least 5 in the south part
of the Island and doubtless others in the North. Site B though
smaller is similar. (3)
Dated to circa 3rd century A.D. (4)
Site 'A'. A series of concentric banks and ditches with an overal
diam. of 64.0m and now mainly rather vague and partially obliterated.
Like 'B' it is set in a marsh and is covered with coarse grass. The
inner bank is now of glacis type with a small portion of inner slopes
in the NE only. Average width 3.0m., inner height 0.2m and outer
height 0.3m. Surrounding the inner bank is an average 2.0m wide ditchwith a depth of 0.4m from its circumference. Surrounding the ditch isa 6.0m wide and 0.3m high outer bank, and beyond it an outer ditch
average 8.0m wide and 0.3m deep.
At 'C' is a 5.0m wide causeway across the outer ditch and at D is a
10.0m wide causeway across the inner ditch.
Site 'B'. - is more pronounced that 'A' and consists of a circular
bank average 0.8m and internal height of average 0.3m. In the south
the bank is weak and at 'A' it has been obliterated. The strongest
portion is in the NE where it has an outer height of 2.0m and an innerheight of 1.1m. A bank 6.0m long and average 0.4m high crosses it at
right angles at 'E'. There is no visible trace of a ditch. (5)
Published survey (25") revised. (6)
(SC 25946846) Round Houses (NR) (Sites of) (NAT) (7)
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