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<< Our Photo Pages >> South Cadbury Castle - Hillfort in England in Somerset

Submitted by PaulH on Monday, 10 September 2012  Page Views: 74131

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: South Cadbury Castle
Country: England County: Somerset Type: Hillfort
 Nearest Village: Sparkford
Map Ref: ST62812515  Landranger Map Number: 183
Latitude: 51.024508N  Longitude: 2.531642W
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
4 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.
3 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
5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

Rulebritannia visited on 8th Feb 2013 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 5 Access: 3 This is Camelot for me, I love this place, everything about it says ancient power and status.

woodini254 visited on 1st Oct 1994 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Impressive hillfort well worth a visit.

graemefield visited on 1st Jun 1990 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 3

hevveh Tomleecee DrewParsons Arjessa have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 4.33 Access: 3.33

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by PaulH : South Cadbury Hill fort, Somerset. ST628252 Mature trees cling to the steep hillsides. Scanned photo from c1995 (Vote or comment on this photo)
South Cadbury hill fort, near Sparkford in Somerset has a long history of occupation. Apart from its stunning setting, its main claim to fame is the evidence that it was reoccupied in the period after the Roman withdrawal. It has been suggested that it is the historical basis for the legend of Arthur's Camelot; indeed it is very close to the village of Queen Camel, whose name is apparently derived from "Camelot".

The Web Site of the South Cadbury Environs Project is here.

The earliest evidence from excavations is of a Neolithic occupation before 3000 BC. This was followed by bronze age and unfortified iron age occupations.

Between 500 and 200 BC the hill top was fortified, when the ramparts that are still spectacular were added. They enclose a site of 8 hectares. There is possible evidence of a temple from this time as well as a smithy and a number of house foundations.

As with other hill forts in southern England there is evidence that the Romans attacked it. There are finds of Roman military equipment and the foundations of a Roman military building within the fort itself.

Now for the most interesting bit. Around 470 AD the innermost rampart was refortified using recycled Roman stone, on top of which a wooden walkway was added. A sturdy wooden gatehouse was included through which passed a 3m wide cobbled road. Within the ramparts a timber "feasting hall" was built; in this hall were found large numbers of sherds of Mediterranean pottery - signs of a high status site where someone or a group were able to afford costly foreign imports.

It could well represent the capital of the Dumnonian Kings, which took over from the then deserted Roman regional capital of Ilchester. In this way it is similar to the Deiran site of Yeavering Bell in Northumberland. In both places local Britons reoccupied the most spectacular local hillfort in the immediate post-Roman era. For an article on Yeavering Bell watch this space...

It has been suggested that the name Cadbury comes from "Cado's fort". Cado was a 6th century AD Dumnonian King. The location of South Cadbury is certainly plausible as a base for the chieftain (Arthur ?) who lead the Britons to victory over the advancing Saxons at "Mons Badonis". The location of this battle is unknown, but place name evidence certainly suggests a halt in the westward tide of Saxon settlements being established. If memory serves this boundary was in the middle of Wiltshire. The pause in Saxon settlement was for 50 years or so, and corresponds to the time of South Cadbury's post Roman occupation. For more on this period of history see David Nash Ford's website.

South Cadbury probably went out of use in the 7th century.

Access is not particularly easy as the approach along a footpath from beside South Cadbury church is still very steep (car park is a little further down the road on the opposite side to the church). Ten minutes stiff climb is amply rewarded by one of the most beautiful views in England.

Most hill forts are magnificent but rather bleak in their setting; on a fine day in high summer South Cadbury seems more like an upwardly projecting part of the garden of Eden. In almost every direction you look lush fields are broken into a patchwork by small woods and coppices.

The slopes of the fort have been softened over the years by the mature trees that now cling on to the hillsides with spectacular effect. Only as you approach the summit do you emerge from the blanket of tree cover to explore the ramparts and enjoy the spectacular vistas. A lovely place for a picnic.

Note: Hillforts in the west of Britain Symposium, Saturday 6 October. See also links to Clas Merdin: Tales from the Enchanted Island
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South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by PaulH : South Cadbury Hill fort, Somerset. ST628252 The ramparts Scanned photo from c1995 (Vote or comment on this photo)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by PaulH : South Cadbury Hill fort, Somerset. ST628252 "A small piece of Eden". Scanned photo from c1995 (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by RichardTabor : Cadbury Castle from Hicknoll Slait (Mary Claridge) (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by caradoc68 : My favourite hillfort and one of South Somerset hidden gems. (Vote or comment on this photo)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by RichardTabor : Site in Somerset: Photo of Cadbury Castle from south south east by Jim Eastaugh (1 comment)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by caradoc68 : South Cadbury, Cadbury Castle (1 comment)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by VixianaWessex : Ella Grace wanders, and wonders why we have driven for hours to see a castle that's not even there. (1 comment)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine : From Sutton Montis, 2009

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by DrewParsons : View from the top of the hill fort across the ditch to the surrounding countryside. A lovely site photographed during a visit in October 2004.

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by RichardTabor : Cadbury Castle: The hillfort and landscapes by Richard Tabor (Tempus) (1 comment)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Arjessa : Entrance to South Cadbury Castle ruins, (Camelot). (2 comments)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by PaulH : South Cadbury Hill fort, Somerset. ST628252 Looking East. Scanned photo from c1995

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine : From Sutton Montis Church, 2009 (1 comment)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine : From Sutton Montis Church with Parsonage Farm Barn, 2009

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine : 2009

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine (1 comment)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine (1 comment)

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine

South Cadbury Castle
South Cadbury Castle submitted by Antonine

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"South Cadbury Castle" | Login/Create an Account | 23 News and Comments
  
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South Cadbury Castle by DavidHarcombe on Saturday, 08 July 2017
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Where the Knights of the Round Table actually met, or how their name arose, is still a mystery. But when you look at South Cadbury castle from the A303 on a summer's evening, the hill-fort from its northern side looks very much like a round table, or "mesa". Could this be the source of the legendary name? Ie, when Arthur's knights (or horsemen more likely) talked of where they were from or going to, might they have simply said "The Round Table"? Because that is what South Cadbury castle looks like.
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by Anonymous on Friday, 21 October 2016
South Cadbury is the site of the legendary Camelot which I feature in my book called TURNER TREES by Keith Pott Turner.
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by Anonymous on Thursday, 13 September 2012
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles record the defeat of the ‘Britons’ at the Battle of Dyrham [present day Deorham] in AD 577. The force of invading Saxons led by Cuthwine and Ceawlin killed three British kings named Conmail, Condidan and Farinmail and succeeded in taking the cities of Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath.
Present day Deorham village and the site of the Battle of Dyrham is only about sixty miles north-east of Cadbury Castle. The city of Bath lies between these two places. The presence of a large victorious Saxon force in the Somerset area led me to conclude the sacking and burning of Cadbury Castle probably took place during the summer of AD 577.
The significance of the Cadbury Castle site is underscored by the archaeological excavations by Professor Leslie Alcock reported in 1967. The burnt out remains of a large timber hall were reported. The sum of the lengths of walls was 33 megalithic rods, an indication the structure was a building linked to a royal personage, perhaps a local king's dwelling. For a report, see "Stonehenge Sacred Symbolism" pages 37-40. Neil L Thomas

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    Re: South Cadbury Castle by 4clydesdale7 on Friday, 14 September 2012
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    The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles state that the battle took place at Deorham which is now confirmed to be the present day village of Dyrham in Gloucestershire (about 6 miles north of Bath) - very little is known at all of the three named British Kings - likewise nothing further is known of Ceawlin until 7 years later when at another battle (at Fethan Leag - presumed to be in Oxfordshire) his co-commander Cutha was killed and Ceawlin himself 'returned in anger' to his own country - this later battle (from Anglo-Saxon silence) is suggested to have been a serious deterioration of fortune for the Anglo-Saxons - from that day onwards Ceawlin's overlordship of the southern English rapidly diminished - by AD593 he had perished alongside Cwichelm and Crida but there does not seem to be any notion of where this may have happened
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Cadbury Day 2012 - Hillforts in the west of Britain, Saturday 6 October by Andy B on Monday, 10 September 2012
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A joint symposium of South Somerset Archaeological Research Group and the Prehistoric Society, covering recent work on hillforts in south-west England and Wales.

It will be held in the Main Hall at North Cadbury Village Hall from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday 6 October. Cost £15.00.

A downloadable booking is available at

http://www.ssarg.org.uk/events.html

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Arthur's Hunting Path by coldrum on Tuesday, 04 September 2012
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From Clas Merdin: Tales from the Enchanted Island:

" Arthur's Hunting Path
“On winter nights, when the moon is high, wait by the track by Camelot. Though nothing catches your eye except shade and moon shadows, you may hear them ride by: Arthur and his men, hoofbeats clattering, with their horns and their hounds on their way to hunt. At night, I hear you ask? Aye at night, for Arthur is not only the king under the hill, but in this land he leads a different kind of hunt – a wild, wild hunt. He calls to his red-eyed hounds as the moonlight silvers the sky, for tonight, my lads, the hunters ride.” [1]

Legends of Camelot
Perhaps the best known site of the claimants for Arthur's legendary court at Camelot is the ancient hillfort of Cadbury Castle, south of the village of South Cadbury, just off the A303 from Chapel Cross, barely a couple of miles east of Sparkford, Somerset. The word "castle" suggestive of a medieval fortress and battlements of Arthurian romance, but this was never a fortification of stone walls and turrets. The hillfort at South Cadbury, with its massive Iron Age earth bank and defensive ditch system, re-fortified in post-Roman times, was without doubt the base of a powerful Dark Age warlord, a dux bellorum; if Arthur existed in an historical sense then this is, without doubt, the most likely contender for his garrison.

The strong Arthurian associations at Cadbury Castle have caused much consternation amongst scholars who have argued that these links only appeared after John Leland's account in 1542, and of course conveniently present the argument that he probably invented much of the Cadbury folklore:

"Right at the South end of South Cadbury Church stands Camelot. This was once a noted town or castle, set on a real peak of a hill, and with marvellously strong natural defences..... Roman coins of gold, silver and copper have been turned up in large quantities during ploughing there, and also in the fields at the foot of the hill, especially on the East side. Many other antiquities have also been found, including at Camelot, within memory, a silver horseshoe. The only information local people can offer is that they have heard that Arthur frequently came to Camelot." [2]

Of course this a rather circular argument; we can neither prove or dis-prove that Leland made up his story of Cadbury Castle being Camelot. It is certainly possible that the Arthurian association of the site existed in local folklore long before Leland's time. We know from other sites, as attested in Historia Brittonum, that Arthur certainly existed in the landscape before Geoffrey of Monmouth. But we must accept that Leland is the first to record the connection with the South Cadbury hillfort.

Following Leland, the antiquarian and historian William Camden (1551-1623) also called the hillfort 'Camalat' identifying the site with the Camelot of Chretien de Troyes. Camden claimed that locally it was called 'Arthur's Palace':

“....and taketh into him a rill neere which is Camalet, a steepe hill and hard to get up: on the top whereof are to bee seene expresse tokens of a decayed Castle with triple rampires of earth cast up, enclosing within it many acres of ground, and there appeare about the hill five or six ditches, so steepe that a man shall sooner slide downe than goe downe. The Inhabitants name it King Arthurs Palace.....As for Cadburie, a little towne next unto it, we may ghesse verie probably to have been that Cathbregion where King Arthur (as Ninnius writeth) defeated the English-Saxons in a memorable battell. ” "

Rest of article here:

http://clasmerdin.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/arthurs-hunting-path.html
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Camelot Abandoned by coldrum on Tuesday, 04 September 2012
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From Clas Merdin: Tales from the Enchanted Island:

" Camelot Abandoned

Why was South Cadbury Hillfort deserted

Camelot
The remains of a large ancient hillfort can be found on a steep, isolated hill of limestone and sandstone at South Cadbury, in Somerset. Known as Cadbury Castle, the hillfort is 500 feet above sea-level, the summit providing panoramic views across central Somerset, including the Tor at Glastonbury some 11 miles distant to the North West. The hillfort has a massive four line defence of bank-and-ditch enclosing a defended area of l8 acres, rising to a long, level central plateau. A break in the ditches at the south-west above the village of Sutton Montis indicates the original gateway. This vast Iron Age hillfort was completely refortified in the Arthurian period, c.500 AD, which has led to claims that it is the site of King Arthur's court at Camelot.

Such a prominent site no doubt was the stronghold of a powerful Dark Age warlord but medieval British sources made- no mention of Camelot; writing in the early 12th century Geoffrey of Monmouth placed King Arthur's court at Caerleon in South East Wales and fails to mention Camelot at all. Similarly, the Welsh Triads do not mention Camelot but place Arthur's court at Celliwig, Cornwall. Indeed, Camelot is first mentioned by the French poet Chretien de Troyes in the romance called Lancelot, or the Knight of the Cart, written in the late 12th century.

Camelot appears to have been a product of medieval French Arthurian romance, but the French authors always placed the location of Arthur's court in Britain. In 1469 Sir Thomas Malory completed "Le Morte d'Arthur" while in London's Newgate Prison. Malory's work is the definitive English Arthurian romance and brings together many earlier French and Welsh tradtitions. Malory placed Camelot at Winchester were today the Round Table can be seen hanging in the Grand Hall. Malory's opus was printed by William Caxton in 1485 who named the work after the last book Morte Darthur although Mallory had originally named it "The Whole Book of King Arthur and His Noble Knights of the Round Table". In his preface Caxton placed Arthur's court in Wales, seemingly following Geoffrey of Monmouth and disagreeing with Malory:

“And yet of record remayne in wytnesse of hym in wales in the toune of Camelot the grete stones & meruayllous werkys of yron lyeng vnder the grounde”.

There is some speculation that Camelot was derived from the Romano-British word 'Camelodunum'. However, the name 'Cadbury' is generally considered to be an Anglo-Brythonic hybrid from the Welsh “cad” = battle + English “bury” = fortification, stronghold = 'Battle-Fort'. Others have suggested a derivation from the personal name Cado, a Dumnonian King, recorded as having a stronghold at Din-Draithou (Dunster), in which case Cadbury could simply mean “Cado's fort”. "

Rest of article here:

http://clasmerdin.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/camelot-abandoned.html
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    Re: Camelot Abandoned by Anonymous on Friday, 05 August 2016
    Cadbury Castle was indeed Arthur's. Every early morning, before everyone else was awake, he would look out over the landscape to the River Cam. His favorite view. To take the chill off the air in this room with view, he would throw a liquid fire on the stone walls to heat them momentarily taking the chill off....later his two wives would spend hours making tapestries on their looms to hang, for that same purpose. This rankled Arthur for he liked his manly diversion of the fire he lit on the stone- but he said nothing - and eventually had to give up his habit - for the tapestries would have ignited. He loved Cadbury- and if you encounter him today, he would graciously show it to you - proud.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Camelot Abandoned by Anonymous on Friday, 05 August 2016
      I have spoken to Arthur many times as a clairaudient psychic - and, while "we" were both at Cadbury Castle- his Castle. It is not a myth. He was real. Merlin was real...Merlin has told me that Camelot will indeed re-emerge. "Never forget that he was a King!!!" Merlin speaking of Arthur. There was a great love between them- a strength, a bond that will last forever. Arthur was reborn in the 20th century as a genius of poetry and physics- dying young at age 45. He had a bad leg caused by a permanent tumour under his toes, and Merlin told me that it was from an arrow shot through his foot when he was Arthur. Arthur would speak about his battles, one in particular one, very large, when he outsmarted his enemy- convincing them to ride forward into a trap- and from the cliffsides he had the advantage. When he was very ill in the 20th c. he was given his sword by Merlin, and lying on his back- he swung it strongly around and around with both arms raised holding it high. That was Arthur.
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by Anonymous on Sunday, 13 May 2012
If this was camalot where is the lake??
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by Anonymous on Tuesday, 17 May 2011
The hilltop location was an excellent vantage point of considerable strategic importance.
The 1967-90 archaeological discovery by Professor Leslie Alcock on the hilltop found charred timber post stumps arranged in a generally rectangular pattern approximately 19 metres by 10 metres. They indicated a timber post building was burnt to the ground, probably as a result of Saxon military action about the time of the Battle of Dyrham in AD 577. The structure was most probably a meeting hall, the headquarters of a local Dumnonian chief.
The measurements of the building indicate the sum of the wall lengths add to thirty-three megalithic rods or faethms, a symbolically significant value indicating the hall was associated with a ruling person. Presumably it was the dwelling place and meeting hall of a British chieftain whose territory embraced the valley of the Exe, built in the traditional age-old way.
After that date, the west-country native British lost their autonomy and became subservient to Saxon rulers. The Cornish branch of Brythonic Celtic was about to be eclipsed by the gradually developing English language.
King Alfred the Great [of the cakes] commissioned the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. These quotes tell a story, famine didi not destroy the Castle, it was the Saxons.
Excerpts from the Anglo Saxon Chronicles
“Aelle and Cyssa besieged Anderida, near Pevensey, and killed all
who were inside, so there was not one Briton left.”
Anglo Saxon Chronicles AD 491
“There came two ealdorman to Britain: Cerdic and Cynric his son, with
five ships, to the place calle Cerdicsora: on the same day they fought
the Welsh Anglo Saxon Chronicles AD 495
“Cerdic and Cynric killed a British king named Natanlaod and five thousand men with him. After that the land was known as Natanleag
up to Cerdiceford.” Anglo Saxon Chronicles AD 508
“Cuthwine and Ceawlin fought the Britons, and killed three kings, Conmail, Condidan and Farinmail, in the place called Deorham [Dyrham].
They took three cities: Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath.”
Anglo Saxon Chronicles AD 577

enjaytom@hotkey.net.au
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Re: Did Famine Destroy ‘Camelot’? by sherab40 on Sunday, 15 May 2011
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Cadbury'schocolate label used to have two trees as a trade mark image looks like those falling down trees on the hillside there..........i love this place
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Did Famine Destroy ‘Camelot’? by bat400 on Friday, 13 May 2011
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South Cadbury Castle is well known for its suspected association with King Arthur as the site of his infamous castle, Camelot. Excavations have shown that the site was indeed strengthened in the period formally known as the Dark Ages, at the time of the legendary Arthur. However, there is one question that remains an enigma – why was the site abandoned?

There is no archaeological evidence that shows there was destruction or an invasion at the site of South Cadbury at the beginning of the sixth century – it simply went out of use. Its abandonment is perplexing for it was strengthened and inhabited in the fifth century as evidenced by the pottery sherds, but by the early sixth century it was uninhabited. South Cadbury has undergone some extensive excavations, especially by Alcock, who tells us ‘On the basis of archaeological evidence the Cadbury II occupation had come to an end before 600AD’.

The archaeological evidence he is referring to is the absence of the imported E-Ware pottery, but the presence of A and B-Ware. A-Ware (400-500AD) bowls ‘with a cross or other motif’; B-Ware (500-600AD) comprised of amphorae which held both oil (for cooking and lighting), and wine. A and B-Ware consists of both native and imported (eastern Mediterranean)pottery.

E-Ware (600-700AD) included native grass-marked ware and imported grey-ware with its origins in the Rhineland. The question then arises as to the dating of the pottery sherds and the overlap between the two types. Two other well known sites show the same pattern as South Cadbury and these are Tintagel and Congresbury. Tintagel also has the Arthurian connection, so can the two sites be tied together through their dating and abandonment? Both sites have A and B-Ware but ‘lack imports of E-Ware’ suggesting that they were occupied and then abandoned around the same period.

Tintagel, at that time, was a monastic site, and imported their goods via the Mediterranean, then heading into the sixth century, Tintagel lost its economic supremacy in south-west Britain and consequently disappeared from the archaeological record until the twelfth century. Cadbury Castle, Congresbury, Glastonbury Tor and High Peak vanished at the same time’.

If there were no more imports the people would have found a local alternative. Dark Age households' ambition was to become as self-sufficient as possible. Imports increased along the south eastern coast, and merchants may have found these areas provided better trade than the western peoples, whose main exchange seems to have shifted to the Bristol region. Now we know that four main sites ceased to be occupied at around the same time the question arises as to why? One hypothesis would be warfare.

The Dark Ages were considered to be a part of English history where little is known except for constant raids by Germanic and other peoples trying to claim land following the Roman withdrawal, but the evidence for this area is lacking. Wessex was pushing its borders further west; the Westward extension of Wessex into Somerset was part of a general wave of aggressive and expansion by the English kingdom from the mid sixth century onwards’. With dating placed during the mid sixth century it does not explain the abandonment of the other sites by the sixth century. It would appear that there is no other logical explanation as to the abandonment of these major sites.

There is one tiny clue that may be able to answer the question, and I emphasise the 'may'. It could offer some answers but would need to be further examined. According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia just after the time of the abandonment there was a possible famine in England. The entry is given under the information relating to St. John the Almsgiver 550-616 and states, He assisted people of every class. A shipwrecked merchant was helped three times, twice without doing him much good; the third time, however, John fitted him out with a ship and a cargo of wheat, and he was taken as far as Britain where, as there was a shor

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Street View by coldrum on Thursday, 18 March 2010
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by Anonymous on Wednesday, 24 September 2008
On my recent visit to this ancient place the 11 mile distant view of Glastonbury Tor rising like an island out of the mist in the early morning took me right back to the dark ages! For me, it was obvious that this amazing hillfort must have been a significant camp in the time of King Arthur.
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Cadbury Castle: New book and website by Andy B on Thursday, 26 June 2008
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RichardTabor writes: Cadbury Castle: New book and website

I know a few people who subscribe to the portal have an interest in Cadbury Castle so they may be interested in my new book, due out in early August from Tempus.

Called 'Cadbury Castle: The Hillfort and Landscapes' it is a review and presentation of the excavations, geophysical survey and test pitting carried out by the South Cadbury Environs Project from 1992 to 2007. It links the project's results to Leslie Alcock's famous excavations on the hillfort, from 1966-70.

And for those frustrated by the out of date project website it has just been re-launched. The old domain name, http://www.southcadbury.org.uk will still apply. You'll find out about the South Cadbury Environs Project's continuing work and about events to do with it and the hillfort.
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Cadbury Day 2008, Saturday 20th September by Andy B on Friday, 20 June 2008
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Cadbury Day 2008
North Cadbury Village Hall

20th September 2008 9:30-4:30

The latest findings of the South Cadbury Environs Project
Including:

Landscape, survey and excavation – more finds in the South Cadbury landscape
Dr Richard Tabor

‘Slain at the gate’ – a reassessment of the Cadbury Castle ‘massacre’ deposit
Sue Jones

Livestock and landscape : animals, people, food and belief in later prehistory
Clare Randall

Displays of work, finds to view and bookstall during breaks. Tour of excavations in the later afternoon.

For booking form:
http://www.taborpoet.co.uk/page33.html#cadburyday
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Re: Volunteers needed for Prehistoric Dig by Kieren on Saturday, 22 July 2006
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Cadbury Castle is a wonderful place and there is no doubt in my mind that this amazing hillfort (lot) by the river Cam is the legendary Camelot.
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Volunteers needed for Prehistoric Dig by Andy B on Thursday, 30 March 2006
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Volunteers are being asked to help on a new dig in Somerset after the discovery of what are thought to be Britain's oldest metal workings. Since 1992, archaeologist Richard Tabor has been working on digs and surveys around Cadbury Castle to uncover some of the area's history.

Last year, with the help of the South East Somerset Archaeological Society, the project hit the jackpot while excavating a site in the village of Sigwells, between Charlton Horethorne and Sutton Montis.

Pottery found at the enclosure, measuring 20 metres by 60 metres, was dated to around 1500BC and finds included clay moulds for metal working and, surprisingly according to Dr Tabor, human bones from the same period.

However, the most important bdiscovery was that of post-holes which showed that the enclosure was the site of a temporary timber building which was built and dismantled for travelling craftsmen who would work from the enclosure during the Bronze Age.

Dr Tabor is employed full-time by Bristol University Department of Archaeology and Anthropology to collect data and make excavations with the help of volunteers. Many of these are members of the South East Somerset Archaeological Society, formerly Wincanton Archaeological Society.

Dr Tabor said: "Last year we found what appears to be the earliest known metal works in Britain at Sigwells. We are going back to near the same site at Easter. We are hoping to find another Bronze Age enclosure.

"The new site is about 200 metres west of the other enclosure. We will be starting at the new site on Thursday 6 April for three and a half weeks.

"We are looking for volunteers to come forward. There is something for everybody to do, from digging to survey work to washing finds. There are things for people to do regardless of their age and ability."

An open day called Cadbury Day is to be held at North Cadbury Village Hall on Sunday 25 June between 10am and 4pm.

Visitors will be able to look at new finds and hear about the latest information on archaeological discoveries in the area.

FOR more information and for tickets for Cadbury Day, or to become a volunteer, call Richard Tabor on 01963 220203 or e-mail r.tabor-3_@tiscali.co.uk
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by nht950 on Friday, 20 January 2006
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Nearby on the high plateau at Sigwells, the South Cadbury Environment Project has recorded the most incredible gradiometry results. The whole area is "alive" with archaeology from the BA, IA and RB periods. The Summer 2005 excavation here found a Middle Bronze Age peripatetic metal working site. Work in the Autumn haqs discovered what seems to be a henge. This will be excavated in Summer 2006. There will also be an Easter time excavation at Sigwells.
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by Anonymous on Friday, 07 October 2005
This is a great hillfort, if passing on the A303 it is well worth popping up. The defenses are incredibly steep, the ramparts were cut straight into the bedrock, apparently the fort would have been bright yellow when first constructed! The plateau is open but much of the ramparts are covered in trees, this adds to the atmosphere of the place for me and there are areas where the defences can be appreciated. The normal entrance is from south cadbury via the north east gate but I prefer approaching from sutton montis and climbing the south west gate- site of the famous massacre deposits uncovered in the late 60''s by Leslie Alc ock. Alcocks book remains an accessible and informative read now backed up by a volume produced following extensive post analysis work edited by John Barrett et al. Work continues in the area in the form of landscape survey by the south cadbury environs project.
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Re: South Cadbury Castle by Anonymous on Tuesday, 29 March 2005
Beautiful enchanting.
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