Archaeologists have stepped in to save an ancient iron age monument on Cleeve Common.
The historic hill fort located on the edge of the scarp on the common had been eroded by the thousands of walkers who use the beauty spot.
Part of the turf had come away to expose the soil underneath, putting the scheduled monument at risk.
But archaeologists from Gloucestershire County Council were called in and with funding from Natural England, the damage was repaired.
Conservation officer for Cleeve Common, Ellie Phillips, said: "It is a scheduled monument and as such is protected by law from damage because it is such an important site. We have so many people using the common and this is what led to the erosion of the hill fort on one side."
The hilltop area is made up of open grassland used for recreation, including the golf course and gallops.
County archaeologist Jan Wills said the Cleeve Hill site would have been occupied during the iron age between 400BC up the Roman occupation in 43AD.
She said: "It is a very important settlement site. Physically it is an area of high ground on the top of the common.
"There are sites like this along the Cotswold escarpment, including one at Crickley Hill.
"The problem is they are well used by people and this problem was caused just by the footfall."
She added: "Once that has eroded, it is very susceptible to further damage from rain or ice in the winter." Under the guidance of the county council's archaeologist Andrew Armstrong, they made a record of what was exposed under the earth.
Staff from the council's estates team, led by Alan Watson, were called in to lay soil and turf and then a wire mesh was laid over the top to keep the earthworks in place.
Jan said: "This is a nationally important archaeological site and one of only 500 across the county that has this special protection."
The common is of national importance for the quality of its landscape, geology, archaeology, nature conservation and scientific interest.
It is the largest area of unimproved limestone grassland in Gloucestershire. Almost all of it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which means it is overseen by Natural England.
Source:
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/story-13977277-detail/story.html?
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