Iron Age Forts

Iron Age forts are also commonly called hillforts, due to the fact that they were often built on manmade hills like motte-and-bailey castles.  Long ditches were dug about the hill and the dirt excavated from the ditches thrown uphill to form a bank.  The precise layout of a typical hillfort's interior is unknown.  Houses were essentially circles of timber posts spaced 1-2m apart, supporting the roof rafters.  The walls were made of wattle covered in daub and perhaps lime-washed. The roof was probably thatched. Square or rectangular structures built with four posts would have been used as animal pens, granaries and sheds.

For more information:

• Iron Age Fort

Thanks to Retto for aid in researching this page.

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