Massacre at Fin Cop

 Archaeologists question the common perception of Iron Age Britain enjoying a golden age of peace before Roman and later invasions following a gruesome discovery in a Derbyshire hill fort's defensive ditch.

Archaeologists Claim Evidence of a Massacre at Fin Cop
Following initial excavations in 2009 at the site of the Iron Age hillfort of Fin Cop near Monsal Head, Derbyshire, in which Longstone Local History Group specifically targeted how and when the ramparts were erected, archaeologists were surprised to find a prehistoric skeleton in the rock-cut ditch outside the ramparts. [1]

The 10 acre site at Fin Cop, dated to between 440  and 390 BC (Middle Iron Age), is heavily fortified by double bank and ditches to the south and east, while to the north and west the deep limestone gorge of Monsal Dale falls away to the river Wye below. The valley here, complete with Monsal Dale viaduct, is one of the Derbyshire Peak District beauty spots.

Monsal Dale

The main rampart had been deliberately reduced and much of the stone pushed into the rock cut ditch. During this destruction a human corpse had been, seemingly, unceremoniously thrown in as part of the ditch fill with the rampart debris. The adult body appeared to have been thrown haphazardly into the ditch possibly which the archaeologists conjectured was possibly as a result of hostilities. Tests carried out on the skeleton have revealed it was that of a pregnant woman, dating from 400 to 200 BC, which surprised experts as they had believed remains at Fin Cop to be from a military context such as a battle scene between local tribes.

Test pits at the site revealed hundreds of chipped stone artefacts such as scrapers for working animal hides dated to the Mesolithic era (10500-3900 BC).

Additional lottery funding has permitted further excavations to take place at Fin Cop which have revealed that the hillfort was destroyed before it had been completed. The defences appear to have been built hastily perhaps in anticipation of some forthcoming catastrophe; a second, outer wall and ditch had been started but not finished. The fort's stone wall had been broken apart and the rubble used to fill the 400m perimeter ditch. In this ditch they found a further eight skeletons. [2]

In addition to the skeleton of the pregnant woman found beneath the collapsed stone wall in  2009, the remains of a teenage boy were discovered huddled at the bottom of the ditch, along with seven more skeletons, all women or children. Burials are relatively rare from the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age; deposits from the period typically characterised by the presence of single bone deposits at both hillforts and settlements. For example a human skull dating to the Early Iron Age was found in Aylesbury hillfort ditch where it is thought to have been placed as a ritual commemoration of the boundary. However, the Middle Iron Age saw a dramatic increase in the number of formal inhumation burials on settlements, albeit in storage pits, with a corresponding decrease in the number of single bone deposits.

The boundaries of settlements are increasingly being recognised as much of social and symbolic significance in addition to serving a practical function and the appearance of deposits of human bone in such contexts should not necessarily be seen as surprising. However, the find of the nine skeletons is reportedly the first time that carelessly-placed Iron Age burials have been found in the UK, which archaeologists are interpreting as the selective massacre of women, babies, a toddler and a single teenage male.

The archaeological team believe they were probably massacred after the fort was attacked and captured. All were found in a 10m long section of ditch, the only part to be excavated to date. The ditch was 5m wide with 2m deep vertical edges and would have guarded a 4m high perimeter wall. Animal bones, also found in the ditch, suggest the fort's inhabitants kept cattle, sheep and pigs. There were also remains from horses which has been interpreted as indicating some of the hillfort's inhabitants were of high status.

Dr Clive Waddington, who directed the two-year dig for Archaeological Research Services, said the findings provide a rare insight into warfare in pre-Roman Britain; "There has been an almost accepted assumption amongst many archaeologists that hill forts functioned as displays of power, prestige and status and that warfare in the British Iron Age is largely invisible."

He added, "The gruesome discoveries at Fin Cop have reopened the debate on the purpose of hill forts. For the people living here, the hurriedly constructed fort was evidently intended as a defensive work in response to a very real threat." [3]

However, talk of an Iron Age massacre appears to be premature at this stage as none of the nine skeletons show signs of violence, suggesting the cause of death may have been from disease, such as plague. Furthermore, at this stage we cannot rule out the possibility of a votive deposit; there is increasing evidence that human pit burials, often found close to the settlement limits, do not represent the normal Iron Age burial rite, but have some other significance, possibly representing sacrificial offerings. This is supported by the absence of adult male remains in the ditch at Fin Cop.

It must be stressed that only 10 metres of the 400 metre long ditch have so far been investigated, yet archaeologists suspect the remains of hundreds more victims may lie in the neighbouring stretch of ditch. With further excavations yet to be completed we should exercise caution until a fuller picture can be constructed.

Local Folklore
Monsal Dale is one of the most picturesque sites in the Peak District and an area steeped in folklore and superstition. Although there is no public access to the hilfort at Fin Cop you can walk through this atmospheric valley of the river Wye from Monsal Dale. Across the A6 road, opposite Fin Cop, is the steep-sided limestone gorge known as Demon's Dell, complete with overhanging ferns and mosses it is somewhat reminiscent of Lud's Church near Leek in Staffordshire. Excavations at Demon's Dell have unearthed cremation urns dating from c.2500BC.

On the northern side of Fin Cop is a fissure in the limestone, a landslip cave known as Hob's House, or Hob Thirst Hole, Hob Hurst's House or Hob Hurts Cave and often confused with Thirst House Cave on the Eastern flank of Deepdale at King Sterndale, towards Buxton, and the Hob Hursts House burial chamber, just over half mile north east of Park gate stone circle on on Harland Edge, near Bakewell, where is said if visiting after dusk you can apparently hear the voices of the original inhabitants.

Local legend states that Hob was a giant who came out at night to thresh the corn of local farmers, who in turn would reward him with a bowl of cream. There are many references to the sprite in Derbyshire helping local farmers but if they didn't reward him he would make mischief.

Hob's House is said to have been the home of the giant Hulac Warren who was turned to stone for attempting to violate a shepherdess. During the attack she threw herself to her death and where her body landed a spring of pure water formed. At the bend in the river Wye, near Demon's Dell, stands the Warren Stone, which local lore claims is the petrified remains of the giant.

Hob, the giant Hulac Warren, is depicted in a local rhyme as the Fiddler of Fin:

The piper of Shacklow,
The fiddler of Fin,
The old woman of Demons Dale,
Calls them all in. [4]

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Sources:
1. A prehistoric 'war grave' found near beauty spot? -  Buxton Advertiser August 2009.
2. Evidence of a massacre at Fin Cop in Derbyshire - Guide to Derby 18 April 2011.
3. Who killed the hill fort nine? The Guardian 09 April 2011
4. Mike Harding, Walking the Peak and Pennines, Michael Joseph, 1992.


For further information: Fin Cop Hillfort: Solving a Debyshire Mystery - Archaeological Research Services Ltd (ARS Ltd)

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