Vitrified forts — How and why?

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IronMan I
IronMan May 14, 2002 15:10:13
Replying to Wotan

I was talking with my workmate about a similar idea earlier. Defending the ramparts would be so much easier if they formed a complete wall of fire - it would be completely impassable. Problem is how long could you sustain such measures? Wouldn't the people below the walls, within the fort, suffocate?

I like the slippery walls angle too.

B BrigantesNation
BrigantesNation May 14, 2002 15:27:38
Replying to IronMan

MMM. There's a couple of spanners in the works:

1. Wincobank, which I think is a vitrified fort the interior area is about average for a hillfort and would cook the chaps inside if the walls were at 1100 degrees.

2. All hill forts have an outer ditch would be a perfect place to put fires yet most hillforts have no signs of this being done. Don't forget most of the defences relied on wood for their structure, there are many cases where wooden parts were covered with leather to protect against fire.

3. In the case of Almondbury, (which I think is a dodgy excavation conclusion) the fort was deserted after vitrification.