The term hill-slope enclosure describes a type of late prehistoric earthwork found across South West England and also in Wales. Normally formed from a single bank, or

ditch A ditch is a small to moderate divot created to channel water. A ditch can be used for drainage, to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation. Ditches ar ...

and bank, enclosing an area of less than 1 hectare, and not on the summit of a hill. They are often found on a

spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...

of a larger hill or range of hills. The original purpose of the hill-slope enclosure is obscure but it is thought that they were not primarily defensive structures. Surveys and excavations have revealed low densities of

posthole In archaeology a posthole or post-hole is a cut feature used to hold a surface timber or stone. They are usually much deeper than they are wide; however, truncation may not make this apparent. Although the remains of the timber may survive, most ...

s and storage pits suggesting they functioned as defensible farmsteads and permanent livestock enclosures. They may also have served different purposes at different times and they may have had symbolic and religious significance which is now impossible to determine.

References

{{Archaeology-stub Archaeological sites in the United Kingdom