Iron Age hill forts

Iron Age hill forts are fortified settlement sites commonly found in Europe, particularly in Britain, dating from around 800 BC to AD 100. Built on elevated ground for defensive purposes, these structures typically feature earthworks, ditches, and wooden or stone walls. They served as secure living spaces for communities, often accommodating hundreds of people. Hill forts were centers of social, economic, and political activity, reflecting the organization of Iron Age societies. Their construction indicates a period of increased social complexity and conflict, as communities sought protection from rivals and a way to assert their power and identity.