Ancient woodlands yield Iron Age camp

A SAXON village and an Iron Age camp have been discovered among a 'stunning' variety of archaeological remains in ancient woods on Exmoor in Somerset, writes David Nicholson-Lord.

The remains, set in a landscape rich with evidence of medieval industries, are at odds with the woodlands' supposed ecological 'purity'.

Rob McDonnell, the archaeologist who made the discoveries during a 'quick look', said they confirmed the view of ancient woodlands as a 'living artefact modified and managed since prehistoric times.' He called the find 'overwhelming'.

The remains were identified during a survey by the National Trust of Horner Woods, Britain's largest area of unenclosed woodland and part of the trust's Holnicote estate, near Porlock.

Contrary to expectations, the trust's survey found many more remains in the woodlands than on open moorland.

The Iron Age camp, with earthworks and a causewayed entrance, may have been in use for 1,000 years from the sixth century BC. The woods were later colonised by the Saxons, and remains of walls and entrances have been found in a hamlet of five or six houses, which may have been inhabited until the 16th century.