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Santan Head Promontory Fort

Archaeology

An Iron Age promontory fort defined by a defensive bank and ditch across the narrow neck of a coastal promontory. The bank and ditch are definite but the area on the seaward side is small and steeply sloping, perhaps a good deal eroded or slipped towards the sea.  A low embankment lies across the neck on the west, to which a path and causeway have been built of rock and rubble.  North of this the rock has been scarped.  On the seaward side is a steep cliff face and in the north and south are steep sided re-entrants.  Across the north-west, a bank with an outer ditch and causeway 1.5 metres wide has been erected.  The entrance is marked by a slab on edge and by the lowering of the bank for 2.5 metres  The slab by the entrance is 1.3 metres long by 0.5 metres high by 0.1 metres wide and is a continuation of the line of the causeway.  The internal bank continues in diminishing strength down part of the south-west side of the fort. The interior of the fort is grass covered and there is no visible trace of internal habitation.  The bank has a maximum inner height of 0.9 metres and average upper width of 0.5 metres.

Santon Head

Connections

Book Chapters

  • Parish: Santon
  • Sheading: Middle
  • Grid Ref: SC3364070500

Sources

  • Isle of Man Heritage Environment Record
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