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Brier Dykes

County Durham, England · Atlas EN3885

Brier Dykes is a contour fort in Hunderthwaite, County Durham, England.

Other names on the record: Briar Dykes.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial univallate and partial bivallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank, and an enclosed area of 0.7 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a spur, at 351 m, and facing southeast.

Recorded land use includes pasture.

Dating evidence is recorded for 1200–800 BC and 800–400 BC (Morphology/Earthwork/Typology). Reliability is recorded as C - Low.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (1016614).

Location

Atlas number
EN3885 (3885)
Country
England
Current county or unitary authority
County Durham
Historic county
County Durham
Parish, community, or townland
Hunderthwaite
National Grid reference
NY 94824 19926
Latitude
54.57453
Longitude
-2.08158
Altitude
351 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial univallate and partial bivallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
2
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 2, SE 2, SW 1, NW 1
Enclosed area
0.7 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank
Enclosing works, excavated
palisade

Landscape

Topographic position
spur
Aspect
southeast
Land use
pasture

Dating

Dating
1200–800 BC and 800–400 BC
Dating evidence
Morphology/Earthwork/Typology
Dating reliability
C - Low

Interior and investigation

Interior excavation
roundhouses
Investigations
Excavation (1982); Other (1999)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
1016614
HER
County Durham 2367249, 2301062, 2367250, 2301062
National record
record NY 91 NW 60; monument 1214379
Wikidata
Q31112551

Sources

References

  1. Fairless, K, and Coggins, D. 1982. Brier Dykes. University of Durham Archaeological Services. Unpublished