ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



INTRODUCTION 



Neither physically nor strategically do the gentle contours of Notting- 

 hamshire provide sites for those great hill fortresses to be found on the crests 

 of the hills in many other counties. 



The great water-way of the Trent divides Nottinghamshire as it flows 

 northwards into the estuary of the Humber ; and many minor rivers, notably 

 the Soar, Erewash, and Idle, made the very heart of the county easily accessible 

 to inimical incursions. With few exceptions its natural features did not lend 

 themselves to fortification ; this was compensated for in the Pennine Range 

 of Derbyshire, on the west, which over-looked the comparatively level sur- 

 face of this county, and formed a barrier to the invaders of the territory of 

 the Coritani, a tribe which occupied approximately the present shires of 

 Lincoln, Nottingham, and Leicester. 



Forest and swamp occupied a large part of Nottinghamshire ; remains 

 of old woods are extant in the Hays of Birkland and Bilhagh, to the north 

 of Ollerton and Edwinstowe ; while in the north-eastern extremity the swamps 

 that intervened between the northern boundary and the Isle of Axholme 

 were almost impassable. 



Viewed through the medium of its earthworks, it appears to have been 

 sparingly inhabited by early man, possibly owing to the poor protection the 

 open character of the country afforded. There are few headlands like the 

 Castle-rock or the old-town area of Nottingham, which could be cut off by 

 rampart and fosse, to constitute forts. There are, however, a number of 

 rounded hills, the summits of which have been utilized as military sites. 

 Though great defensive works of a martial character are absent, we find 

 numerous sites of moated manor houses, less interesting, possibly, than the 

 former, but necessary for the preservation of household property and domestic 

 peace. 



Such earthworks as are traceable are here classified according to the 

 following scheme, adopted by the Congress of Archaeological Societies in 

 1903 ; and we find examples illustrating all but class H. 



Class A. Fortresses partly inaccessible, by reason of precipices, clifls, or water, additionally 

 defended by artificial works, usually known as promontory fortresses. 



Class B. Fortresses on hill-tops with artificial defences, following the natural line of the hill , 

 or, though usually on high ground, less dependent on natural slopes for protection. 



Class C. Rectangular or other simple enclosures, including forts and towns of the Romano- 

 British period. 



Class D. Forts consisting only of a mount with encircling ditch or fosse. 



Class E. Fortified mounts, either artificial or partly natural, with traces of an attached court 

 or bailey, or of two or more such courts. 



Class F. Homestead moats, such as abound in some lowland districts, consisting of simple 

 enclosures formed into artificial islands by water moats. 



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