More information : Late Bronze Age settlement site on Itford Hill excavated
from 1949-1953 by Burstow and Holleyman.
Situated at TQ 447053, the settlement consisted of about a dozen
round huts standing on circular platforms, some enclosed with
earthen ramparts while others stood alone. The compounds comprise
a single encircling bank of earth which had been removed from the
hut platforms. Evidence suggests that some of the banks were
surmounted by light palisades.
The site was undoubtedly a farmstead, surrounded by a small number
of Celtic fields. Mixed farming was practised, probably by one
family, not exceeding 20 persons including servants. The length
of occupation appears to have been short - not more than 25
years, and a general paucity of occupation material all point
to the settlement having had a short history. The period is placed
in LBA I (1000-750 BC) on pottery evidence. No bronze was found,
but the tool-marks in one of the storage pits were made probably
with a bronze palstave. Ample evidence of weaving was found, and
the discovery of a chalk phallus indicates the practice of some
form of fertility magic.
It would seem that the main settlement (ie Enclosures I to VIII)
was planned and built as a complete farmstead with two sleeping
huts, a weaving and storage hut, cooking compound and 8
miscellaneous huts serving as store rooms, barns, byres, workshops
etc. (See plans)
Enclosures IX and X to the SE were probably added slightly later
to accommodate an increased population. (1)
Late Bronze Age Settlement (NR) (site of) (2)
Enclosures I to VIII have been preserved, within a small area
of undisturbed downland, centred at TQ 44700527, upon arable land.
Apart from lynchets preserved beneath existing field fences and
on the SE slopes of Itford Hill, averaging 1.0 m in height, the
Celtic field system has been ploughed out.
Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
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