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<< Our Photo Pages >> Stonea Camp - Hillfort in England in Cambridgeshire

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 06 September 2023  Page Views: 37381

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Stonea Camp
Country: England County: Cambridgeshire Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: March  Nearest Village: Stonea
Map Ref: TL448930  Landranger Map Number: 142
Latitude: 52.515655N  Longitude: 0.132472E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : Stoney Camp bank and ditch Excavations by the British Museum in 1980 on a well-preserved section of bank suggest that the Romans deliberately destroyed some of the defences at Stonea. After that the earthworks survived untouched for nearly 2000 years. Copyright Bob Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence (Vote or comment on this photo)
Stonea Camp stands on a gravel island two meters above sea level amid the black Norfolk fens. It must have been a very wet place and the ditches would have naturaly filled with water. There is a single bank and ditch to the south west with three defensive lines to the north. There were three periods of construction and it is suggested by the excavators that this was the site of the battle between the Roman governor, Ostorius and the Iceni in 47AD

Tacitus describes the earthwork as having an entrance too narrow for cavalry. The defending Britons were trapped by their own banks and slaughtered. The skull of a four year old child was found and was badly hacked by sword cuts. Also excavated was a horribly mutilated adult skeleton.

Approached today from the B1093 along a straight, narrow farm track where a peaceful pastoral oasis is found amid the endles cabbages and cauliflowers of the fertile black fens.

See in the comments below for a video showing the skull split with a sword, found at the site.

Page originally by Vicky.

Note: Stonea Camp/From the Neolithic to the Iron Age: The Creation of a Hill Fort Event at Stonea Camp, 10th September 2023
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Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Thorgrim : The lowest hillfort in Britain at just 2m above sea level. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Thorgrim : Restored after being totally ploughed out, Stonea Camp is on a gravel island and was once surrounded by wet fens. Now that the fens have been drained, it stands 2 meters above sea level surrounded by hundreds of square miles of cabbages and beets. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : Stonea Camp Iron Age Hill Fort just 2 metres above sea level Copyright Shaun Ferguson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : Stonea Camp ditches. Stonea Camp is the lowest 'hill fort' in Britain. Extensive banks and ditches protected its northern side, while the marshes and streams of the Fens formed the southern defences. Built by Britons in the Iron Age as a base for inter-tribal conflicts, the fort was also used to defend the area against the Romans. Most of the earthworks visible today were rebuilt in 1991 to their ... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : Stonea Camp viewpoint The information board explains that radiocarbon dating has shown that the defensive ditches at Stonea were built between 350 and 100 BC, and continued in use until the end of the 1st century AD Copyright Bob Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : A view of one of the earlier and inner ditches at Stonea camp, next to the entrance. Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : Looking towards the small but adequate car park. The Southern ditch is a lot smaller than it would have been when built. Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : Sheep, along with some of the now low embankments and ditches. Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Stonea Camp
Stonea Camp submitted by Creative Commons : A view north of the embankments and ditches, started around 500BC Stonea Camp is a scheduled ancient monument on a small gravel island just two metres above sea level, making it the lowest hillfort in the UK. The camp was surrounded by marshes on all sides apart from a land bridge which was heavily guarded. This created two D shape enclosures protecting the inhabitants. There are thoug...

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"Stonea Camp" | Login/Create an Account | 9 News and Comments
  
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From Neolithic to Iron Age: The Creation of a Hill Fort at Stonea Camp 10th Sept 2023 by Andy B on Wednesday, 06 September 2023
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Stonea Camp/From the Neolithic to the Iron Age: The Creation of a Hill Fort at Stonea, 10th September 2023

Heritage, Culture & Community (HCC) Stonea welcomes you to discover how Stonea Camp developed during the Neolithic Age & became a strategic defence & spiritual site for Boudicca’s Iceni tribe during the Late Iron Age.

An afternoon of discovery on prehistoric Fenland. Find how Stonea Camp, in rural Cambridgeshire was developed during the Neolithic Age and built upon over time to become a magnificent strategic defence and spiritual site for Boudicca’s Iceni tribe during the Late Iron Age.

There will be something for all the family. This event is free to attend. Join us at Stonea Camp on Sunday, 10th September 2023 at 1400. Free parking is available on site. The access road is rutted and undulating in parts, so please be aware and drive a suitable vehicle to site. Likewise the terrain is undulating, there are no facilities or shelter on site, so please wear suitable footwear and clothing. The Camp approach road is located almost opposite Skylark, which is a good venue for refreshments and facilities, before or after attending.

Sunday 10 September: 1400-1600
No booking required
The Camp approach road is located almost opposite Skylark, which is a good venue for refreshments and facilities, before or after attending. This event will have interactive stations suitable for all ages.

More details:
www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/stoneacamp2023
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Stonea Camp by PastMaster on Tuesday, 03 May 2016
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A large group gathered in the car park for a visit with David Crawford-White on 30 April. This is an unusual site to say the least – not only is it the lowest “hill fort” in the country at 3m above sea level, but despite being a Scheduled Monument the site had almost been lost to ploughing in the 1960s, so what the visitor sees today is a “renovation” of the original banks and ditches. This does make the layout of the site very clear, and David was able to explain to us the likely phases of development and the strategic reasons for the shape of the site, which was originally situated on the defendable southern tip of an island in the fen wetland. He also gave us a very clear account of the various theories surrounding the site – was it the site of the battle described by Tacitus? Was the nearby massive Roman building (no longer visible on the ground) the administration block of a Roman Imperial estate, or a major temple? Only further investigation can solve this. David also brought along a collection of finds, the highlight of which was a child’s skull with its sword-inflicted injuries from the site (see earlier comment for picture)..
[ Reply to This ]

History of Stonea Camp brought to life by archaeologist and storyteller by Andy B on Sunday, 09 June 2013
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Almost 50 people enjoyed a tour of Stonea Camp with an archaeological expert.

David Crawford-White, of Oxford Archaeology East, spoke about the history and archaeology of the site, which lies on what was once the border of the Iceni and the Coritani tribes.

Described as the lowest ‘hill’ fort in England, it has been occupied since the Bronze Age and is believed to be the site of a major battle between the conquering Romans and the Iceni tribe, whose queen was named Boudicca.

After the tour of the site, about 30 of the visitors stayed to hear professional storyteller Paul Jackson recount the story of the Boudiccan Revolt.

More at
http://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/history_of_stonea_camp_brought_to_life_by_archaeologist_and_storyteller_1_2214906
[ Reply to This ]

Stonea Camp Street View by Andy B on Sunday, 19 May 2013
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Street View - not the prettiest but what the heck! The camp is straight ahead in the distance where the trees are.
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Tales from Stonea Camp, Guided Walk, Weds 22nd May by Andy B on Saturday, 18 May 2013
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Local archaeologists and a story teller will welcome people to Stonea Camp hill fort, near Wimblington and help bring the story of Fenland and Cambridgeshire to life.

The site, which is scheduled as being of national importance, was the scene of some of the most important events surrounding the Iceni and Romans in the Fens.

People can come and discover for themselves the story of the site at a special event, including a guided walk and then storytelling, at the Iron Age fort on the 22 May.

The fort formed part of the frontier of the Iceni tribe of Norfolk, who twice rose in revolt against the Roman invaders, the second time under the leadership of their queen, Boudicca. The grisly legacy of these revolts has been excavated at the camp.

The Romans chose the site near to the Camp for their ‘town’ that was to control the area, building a large stone tower that would have been seen for miles around.

Stephen Macaulay, Senior Project Manager Oxford Archaeology East said: “Stonea Camp is a wonderful site and one of the most important archaeological sites in East Anglia, if not Britain itself. Indeed it is perhaps the first site in the whole of Britain which enters the historical, as well as archaeological record and people should take this opportunity to discover its secrets”.

Stonea Camp is between March and Ely, off the B1093 Wimblington to Manea road. It is a County Farms Pocket park and open to the public throughout the year. Meet at the car park by the Nissan Hut beyond Stitches Farm at the end of the track at 7pm. The walk and storytelling are both free and there is no need to book in advance. Most of the site is accessible for people with restricted mobility. Please dress suitably.

This guided walk is just one in a series of guided walks and events organised by Cambridgeshire Archaeology throughout the county.

For further details on this or any other guided walks on the ancient monuments please contact Cambridgeshire Archaeology (01223) 728564. Details are also on Cambridgeshire County Council’s website, follow the links to archaeology and heritage walks.

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/archaeology/outreach/outreach_walks.htm

With thanks to Coldrum for the info.
If you do get to any of these walks please let us know how it went and perhaps send a photo.
[ Reply to This ]

Video: Sword-slashed skull found at Stonea Camp by Andy B on Saturday, 18 May 2013
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Oxford Archaeology East found this child's skull, which has been split by a sword, at Stonea Camp in Cambridgeshire. Watch the video to hear Stephen Macaulay explain what happened to the skull’s unfortunate owner and why the discovery is so special in terms of wider history.



You are invited to a free guided walk at Stonea Camp, where this skull was found, on Wednesday 22nd May at 7pm, where you can learn about the earliest Iron Age fortifications in the area, the Roman Tower and settlement and also enjoy storytelling with Paul Jackson.

Those wanting to join in should meet at the entrance past Stitches Farm (PE15 0PE)

[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Video: Sword-slashed skull found at Stonea Camp by Anonymous on Saturday, 23 August 2014
    The childs skull dates to approx 100 years before the Iceni rebellion of AD47. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that this battle occured there. The 'camp' is not at the highest point of the Stonea Fen island and has no complex entry. It is being sensationalized by OAE, rather than academic research to find more factual archaeology. For the record Tacitus does not say the battle occured in the Fens.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Stonea Camp by Anonymous on Sunday, 26 August 2007
Shame we missed the guided walk. would have loved it, but didnt find the camp until we were wandering by yesterday and saw the white old looking signost.
Very interesting as the information boards bring the past to life.
Picturesque and peaceful, would like to know more if possible. Whens the next walk?
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Stonea Camp by Anonymous on Monday, 30 September 2002
Best thing about Stonea camp, is you are likely to be the only visitor, whatever time you go. I live in the village and have visited 10+ times and I think on one occasion seen someone else there.

Stonea camp consists of earthworks forming embankments and enclosures over an area of perhaps quarter of a mile square. That which is visible today is, I believe, a reconstruction after
the original earthworks were ploughed over in the 1920's. However I think the site is otherwise undisturbed and unexcavated in terms of the archeology of the deeper ground.

Worth a visit on a warm summer evening if you are in the area.
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