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TASBURGH FORT, near Long Stratton (TM 201960)
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hillfort is the most difficult to interpret of the Norfolk Archaeological
Trust's properties. It is roughly
oval in plan surrounded by earth ramparts.
It stands within the village of Upper Tasburgh, and Tasburgh church lies
within the fort near its southern side. The
Trust bought 16 acres (6.5 hectares) of the site in 1994 mainly to prevent
further plough damage to the western ramparts.
The best preserved ramparts lie on the northern side where there is still
an ancient hedgerow.
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Tasburgh
hillfort from the NW.
The dark outline of a possible Bronze Age ring ditch is just visible -
near the middle of the fort.
©
Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service.
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fort is likely to be Iron Age (just before the Roman period), but its date is
unproven. The Trust has one
interpretation panel in the field near the gate opposite the church to explain
the fort and another in the churchyard to explain the history of the church.
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Tasburgh
hillfort: the interpretation panel which shows the outline of the earth
work and its relationship to the Parish church. A cross section indicates
how the earthwork may have been constructed originally.
©
Sue White
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Excavations
in the churchyard in advance of modern burials between 1975 and 1980 revealed
evidence of habitation from Middle Saxon Period (650-850 AD) up to 1200 AD, but the
date of the fort's construction remains unresolved. Some say Iron Age and others suggest it could be contemporary
with ninth-century Danish invasions of the area or its subsequent reconquest.
Only further excavation will provide an answer.
Meanwhile the site is now safe and provides a welcome new public open
space in the centre of Tasburgh village.
The
fort site is managed by Tasburgh Parish Council for the Norfolk Archaeological
Trust.
Access:
Park
near the church. The site is open
all year round.
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Plan
of earthworks at Tasburgh. The outline of the fort is clear on the north,
west and south sides, but it has not been identified east of Grove Lane.
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Tasburgh
hillfort from the west 1989.
The ploughed-down outline of the defences is visible in the foreground
and along the hedgerow to the north. To
the south the defences take in the parish church.
©
Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service.
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Tasburgh
further reading
| Davies,
J.A. et al 1992 |
"The
Iron Age Forts of Norfolk," East
Anglian Archaeology No.54, 31-58. (For further information on the EAA series, see www.eaareports.org.uk
) |
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