Yarnbury Castle - Archaeology

Archaeology

The earthworks at Yarnbury comprise of three ramparts with outer ditches. The outer ramparts measure up to 3.5 m (11 ft) high, and the ditches a further 1.7 m (5.6 ft) deep, and are encroached upon by the centre rampart in places, suggesting that the inner and centre rampart are a later feature. The overall width of the earthworks is generally uniform at around 17 m (56 ft). The earthworks are generally well preserved, except in the northeastern side where the outermost ditch has been lost due to the encroachment of a downland driveway. In the centre of the hillfort lies an earlier and smaller single banked enclosure of 5.2 ha (13 acres) in area, and with an entrance in the western side of the earthwork.

The main earthworks are thought to date from around 100 BC, with the earlier inner circuit being from about 300 BC, according to pottery finds from early iron age through to Romano-British, including for Samian of around 160 AD. The main entrance to the hillfort lies on the eastern side of the site, with a complex of earthwork fortifications. There is a further entrance at the northern end, possibly a later addition, with the entrance to the western side thought to be non-original or later so serve a smaller sub-rectangular Romano-British enclosure on that side of the fort.

Within the fort there is much evidence for many structures, mainly circular in plan, and within compounds with low earth banks. The structures vary between 7 m (23 ft) and 15 m (49 ft) in diameter, and up to 1.0 m (3.3 ft) deep. In particular, in the north and east of the site, and between the earlier enclosure and the inner rampart, there are a number of large compounds containing structures clearly visible, many with evidence for possible stone footings. It is also evident that a number of them overlap and indicate a prolonged and varied occupation of the site.

There have been numerous inhumations found at the site including for two within pits, and other isolated human bones found in other pits. Also nine complete or partial remains of newly born and young infants have been found in the bottom of the earthwork ditches. Archaeological finds include for pottery sherds, flint flakes, iron slag, Celtic coins, and bronze brooches. From later periods finds also include for much Roman items, such as pottery, tiles, coins and three burials in graves.