While researching the area around the town of Bridport in Dorset, I came across a curious pattern of straight lines and right angles in the fields near the village of Symondsbury.
Upon closer inspection, I discovered that this was a series of ancient Celtic field systems, dating back over 2,000 years. These intricate arrangements of fields, known as strip lynchets, were created by the Celts to maximize their use of the hilly terrain in this part of the country.
The Celts would divide the land into narrow strips, which they would cultivate intensively. The strip lynchets were created by cutting into the slope of the hill to create a level platform for each strip, then building a retaining wall along the downhill edge of the platform to prevent soil erosion. The retaining walls were then used as a pathway to access the strips above.
What's remarkable about the Symondsbury strip lynchets is that they are so well-preserved, despite being over 2,000 years old. The walls are still intact, and the pattern of fields is still visible on the landscape. In fact, the Symondsbury strip lynchets are considered to be some of the finest examples of Celtic field systems in the country.
The strip lynchets in Symondsbury are not just a curiosity for historians and cartographers, but also a testament to the ingenuity of our ancestors. The Celts were able to create an efficient and sustainable system of agriculture in a challenging landscape, and their legacy can still be seen today.
It's incredible to think that these ancient field systems have survived for so long, and that they are still a vital part of the landscape in rural England. It's a reminder that our past is all around us, and that there are always new discoveries to be made if we take the time to look.
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