Norsebury Ring
| Norsebury Ring | |
|
Hampshire | |
|---|---|
 From Hunton Down towards Norsebury Ring | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU491401 |
| Location: | 51°9’28"N, 1°17’57"W |
| History | |
| Built Iron Age | |
| Information | |
Norsebury Ring is the site of an Iron Age univallate hillfort in Hampshire. Now mostly ploughed out to the south and east, some ditches and ramparts remain within a small copsed area to the north and west, which are surprisingly intact with a small outer ditch, then a bank, then another larger ditch followed by larger bank.[1] However the trees and undergrowth hide the earthworks from immediate view.
The site is to be found to the east of the village of Sutton Scotney, and to the west of the village of Micheldever. Immediately to the south flows the River Dever. The site lies just off to the western side of a shallow hill, at a level of approximately 330 feet above sea level.
A magnetometry survey in 1997 revealed two entrances (at the south-east and south-west) and found evidence to suggest that the site had a thriving Iron Age settlement. Bronze Age and Roman pottery has also been found at the site.[2] Originally, from one of the two entrances, a ditched avenue led to a large sub-circular enclosure some 30M. across in the centre of the fort. The enclosure may have contained a timber shrine as is thought to have existed at Danebury.[1][3]
The name Norsebury has been recorded in a past age as Næsan Byrg which translates as "Fort at the ness", or "nose".[1][4]
Just to the east (SU497391) lies the site of the 'Weston Colley Group' of 13 round barrows, which have been extensively ploughed out and are now crop marks only.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Norsebury Ring: The Modern Antiquarian
- ↑ Megalithic Portal: Norsebury Ring
- ↑ Brit Arch 1998 No. 39
- ↑ Coates 1989