Earthwork On Botany Hill: Slight Univallate Hillfort
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- RefNo: 1727
- Reference Number: SHHER_1727
- Site Name: Earthwork On Botany Hill: Slight Univallate Hillfort
- Grid Reference: 487510 146250
- Description: The feature published on the OS 6" map of 1961 is a natural steep sided hill. The earthwork stands on a north-west promontory of Crooksbury Common above the 400 ft contour line. It is dominated to the south-east by Crooksbury Hill, a prominent greensand knoll. The work comprises an oval enclosure some 40.0m in diameter which has been levelled on the south-east side. It is almost identical to Soldier's Ring (HER 1728) and is defended around the n and w sides by steep natural slopes which have been scarped for additional defence. Around the south side a strong rampart and ditch has been constructed measuring some 15.0m across and up to 2.0m in height. There is no apparent entrance but it may have been in the now levelled site. The exact date or purpose of the work remains obscure, but it is clearly a defensive enclosure and may be a small hillfort; but it must be considered in relationship with Soldier's Ring some 500.0m to the east.
The monument is scheduled as the remains of a slight univallate hillfort, possibly unfinished, situated on a steep-sided natural knoll of Greensand on the south west slope of Botany Hill. Part excavation of the site in 1993 suggested that the ramparts did not form a continuous circuit, as previously had been thought.
Considerable numbers of calcined flint pot-boilers have been found in rabbit scrapes inside the enclosure over the years.
Scheduled monument 20177. - Form: EARTHWORK
- For more information contact: Surrey Sites and Monuments Record
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