Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications

Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications

Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications (also known as 'Stanwick Camp'), a huge Iron Age hill fort, sometimes but not always considered an oppidum, comprising over 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) of ditches and ramparts enclosing approximately 300 hectares (700 acres) of land,^[1] are situated in Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, England. They are located 8 miles (13 km) north of the town of Richmond and 10 miles (16 km) south west of Darlington, close to Scotch Corner and the remains of the Roman fort and bridge at Piercebridge. Rising to a height of almost 5 metres (16 ft) in places, the ramparts completely surround the village of Stanwick St John and form one of the largest Iron Age settlements in Britain, in extent if not necessarily in population. The name 'Stanwick' is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word 'steinvegges', meaning stone walls; although an Anglo-Saxon etymology, from stān "stone" and wic "settlement", is also plausible.^{[citation needed]}

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications