Wooston Castle’s secrets revealed
It’s exactly a year since a team of archaeologists and volunteers set out quite literally, to unearth the secrets of Wooston Castle, one of three Iron Age Hill Forts built along the Teign Valley. With commanding views across the river; the people who lived in or used these sites would have been able to see each other’s fires and had easy access to the rich resources of the River Teign and surrounding woods. Their presence pushes occupation back 2,500 years ago.Estimated to have been built in the Middle to late Iron Age (1st – 2nd Century BC), using only hand-made tools and hard physical labour; Hill Forts have been interpreted as having several uses including stock enclosures, market centres, places of refuge, as well as permanent settlements. Whatever the exact or combined use was, the construction involved collaborative effort, planning and organisation and perhaps these are some of the reasons why their eroded banks and ditches continue to fascinate us.
Intriguingly, one artefact was found. A prehistoric worked flint that most likely dates to the Neolithic period. The flint appears to be the central section of a broken blade and at some stage someone had retouched both lateral edges. It shows it was a valuable tool that was worthy of repair because of the effort and skill it must have taken to make it. We won’t know whether it was lost, and the person went home irritated, or whether they simply threw it away when it couldn’t be repaired any more. It’s another secret that Wooston Castle will keep.As the days are getting longer why not take some time out to visit this site? It is easily accessible from both Sawmill and Hill Fort Castle carparks and you’ll be rewarded with wonderful views over the Teign Valley. You’ll also be able to look out for buzzards and the wide range of butterflies that are beginning to emerge; or indulge in my personal favourite, walking around the banks and ditches and trying to imagine what it must have been like to build and live in this place.By Jane HallidayFurther information on the archaeological excavations and historic listings can be found at:AC Archaeology Ltd, 2018, WOOSTON CASTLE, FINGLE WOODS, DREWSTEIGNTON,DEVON. Results of archaeological investigations 2018Fox, A, 1996, Prehistoric Hillforts in Devon. Devon Bookshttps://ancientmonuments.uk/102074-wooston-castle-moretonhampstead#.XKoa6PZFzv8https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1003822
