Hillforts & Barrows

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thesweetcheat T
thesweetcheat Sep 16, 2012 14:55:07
Replying to juamei

juamei wrote:
I've always assumed its a case of barrows are built on a lot of hills, some of which were later use for hillforts. Builders of hillforts respected the burial mounds of their ancestors so built around them and left them in situ. Which is kinda boring, but seems the most likely to me.
I'd be inclined to agree, from what I've seen. There are several forts that I've visited that have barrows inside the ramparts, eg Farmington in Glos (very reduced long barrow), Foel Fenlli and Penycloddiau (Clwydian Hills) and most recently Sully Island (near Cardiff). All of these are typical sites for IA defensive/status enclosures, I reckon they just respected the barrows and didn't want to damage them, but still wanted to use the site.

E Evergreen Dazed
Evergreen Dazed Sep 16, 2012 15:07:44
Replying to thesweetcheat

thesweetcheat wrote:
juamei wrote:
I've always assumed its a case of barrows are built on a lot of hills, some of which were later use for hillforts. Builders of hillforts respected the burial mounds of their ancestors so built around them and left them in situ. Which is kinda boring, but seems the most likely to me.
I'd be inclined to agree, from what I've seen. There are several forts that I've visited that have barrows inside the ramparts, eg Farmington in Glos (very reduced long barrow), Foel Fenlli and Penycloddiau (Clwydian Hills) and most recently Sully Island (near Cardiff). All of these are typical sites for IA defensive/status enclosures, I reckon they just respected the barrows and didn't want to damage them, but still wanted to use the site.
Curious though, if you consider the esteem (fear?) with which they regarded them, if you accept they may have used them around a site as 'deterrent' to others.

This is why I think Tiompans suggestion of refuge or storage would be more likely than them living 'full time' with such a 'powerful' monument in the same space.

S Sanctuary
Sanctuary Sep 16, 2012 15:08:57
Replying to thesweetcheat

thesweetcheat wrote:
juamei wrote:
I've always assumed its a case of barrows are built on a lot of hills, some of which were later use for hillforts. Builders of hillforts respected the burial mounds of their ancestors so built around them and left them in situ. Which is kinda boring, but seems the most likely to me.
I'd be inclined to agree, from what I've seen. There are several forts that I've visited that have barrows inside the ramparts, eg Farmington in Glos (very reduced long barrow), Foel Fenlli and Penycloddiau (Clwydian Hills) and most recently Sully Island (near Cardiff). All of these are typical sites for IA defensive/status enclosures, I reckon they just respected the barrows and didn't want to damage them, but still wanted to use the site.
I agree with you Alken regards the respect angle. The very site itself had 'meaning' to it other than the obvious defensive use.

C CARL
CARL Sep 17, 2012 07:31:11
Replying to thesweetcheat

Seems logical.
It's what I would do.