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Mam Tor

Derbyshire, England · Atlas EN2968

Mam Tor is a contour fort in Castleton, Derbyshire, England.

It is recorded as both extant and likely destroyed, with a partial univallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank and counterscarp bank, and an enclosed area of 6.4 hectares.

Survival on the ground may be uneven.

The topographic record places it on a ridge, at 517 m, and facing northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.

Recorded land use includes pasture.

Dating evidence is recorded for 1200–800 BC, 800–400 BC, and 400 BC–AD 50 (Artefactual, C14, and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology). Reliability is recorded as B - Medium.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1011206).

Location

Atlas number
EN2968 (2968)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
Derbyshire
Historic county
Derbyshire
Parish, community, or townland
Castleton
National Grid reference
SK 12784 83696
Latitude
53.34999
Longitude
-1.80942
Altitude
517 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant and Likely destroyed
Morphology
partial univallate
Complete rampart circuit
No
Number of ramparts
1
Number of ditches
1
Possible original entrances
3
Breaks through the ramparts
6
Enclosed area
6.4 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank and counterscarp bank
Enclosing works, excavated
stone wall, palisade, and counterscarp bank
Also recorded
multi-period enclosure system and ditches
Entrance forms
In-turned (North west); In-turned (South west); Simple Gap (North west)

Landscape

Topographic position
ridge
Aspect
northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest
Land use
pasture
Water source
spring

Dating

Dating
1200–800 BC, 800–400 BC, and 400 BC–AD 50
Dating evidence
Artefactual, C14, and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology
Dating reliability
B - Medium

Interior and investigation

Interior surface
curvilinear platforms
Interior excavation
pits and postholes
Finds
pottery, metal, metalworking, and environmental material
Investigations
Other (1936); Geophysical Survey (1965); Other (1965); Other (1979); Other (1998); Other (1999); Other (2001); Other (2013); 1st Identified Written Reference (1665-1693); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1885-1900); Excavation (1965-1969); Excavation (1993-1

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1011206
HER
Derbyshire 3319
National record
record SK 18 SW 1; monument 309590
Wikidata
Q31113014

Sources

References

  1. Bateman, T. 1849 Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire, 9, 124
  2. Bevan, B, 2001. National Trust High Peak Estate: Archaeological Survey. Unpublished
  3. Bray, W. 1783. Sketch of a tour into Derbyshire and Yorkshire. 2nd edition. London.
  4. Burgess, C. B. 1969. Some Decorated Socketed Axes in Canon Greenwell's Collection. Yorkshire Archaeol J. 42, 267-272
  5. Coombs, D. G. and Thompson, F. H. 1979. Excavation of the Hill Fort of Mam Tor, Derbyshire 1965-69, Derbyshire Archaeol J. 99, 7-51
  6. Guilbert, G. 1996. The oldest artefact of lead in the Peak: new evidence from Mam Tor. Mining History, 13, 12-18
  7. Guilbert, G. 2001. Some Fieldwork in Derbyshire by Trent & Peak Archaeological Unit in 1998-99. 13. Mam Tor', Derbyshire Archaeol J. 121 216-220
  8. Guilbert, G. & Vince, A, 1996. Petrology of some prehistoric pottery from Mam Tor. Derbyshire Archaeol J. 116, 49-59
  9. Mora-Ottomano, A. (ARS Ltd), 2014. Mam Tor, Derbyshire: Archaeological Watching Brief. Unpublished
  10. Waltham, T. and Dixon, N. 2000. Movement of the Mam Tor landslide, Derbyshire, UK, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology 33 (2),105-123.