promontory fort
A promontory fort is a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus using the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to da ...
of the
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly appl ...
, on
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
St Mary's ( kw, Ennor, meaning ''The Mainland'') is the largest and most populous island of the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the southwest coast of Cornwall in England.
Description
St Mary's has an area of — 40 percent of the total la ...
, England. It is a
scheduled monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...
.
Description
The fort is situated in the south-east of St Mary's, near St Mary's Airport and on the edge of Salakee Down. The rocky promontory, area , is defended by sea cliffs, high, on the east, south and south-west sides. To the north there are three banks and ditches, apart; these occupy most of the steep northern slope linking the promontory to the mainland. The castle, on almost level ground within the promontory, has an internal area of about .
During the Second World War, a practice firing target for military aircraft was made in the western end of the outermost rampart. This survives as an unroofed rectangular structure up to high. Fragments of early Iron Age pottery were recovered from cuttings made by the army.
See also
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Hillforts in Britain Hillforts in Britain refers to the various hillforts within the island of Great Britain. Although the earliest such constructs fitting this description come from the Neolithic British Isles, with a few also dating to later Bronze Age Britain, Briti ...
*
Promontory forts of Cornwall
Cornish promontory forts, commonly known in Cornwall as cliff castles, are coastal equivalents of the hill forts and Cornish "rounds" found on Cornish hilltops and slopes. Similar coastal forts are found on the north–west European seaboard, in ...