hill english county somerset topped tower grade listed building site managed designated scheduled monument conical hill clay rises formed surrounding softer deposits eroded leaving hard cap sandstone exposed slopes hill method formed remains unexplained artefacts human found dating roman eras buildings constructed summit saxon early medieval periods interpreted early church monks head wheel cross dating 10th 11th century recovered original wooden church destroyed earthquake stone church michael built site 14th century tower remains restored partially rebuilt times archaeological excavations 20th century sought clarify background monument church aspects history remain unexplained mentioned celtic mythology particularly myths linked king arthur number enduring mythological spiritual associations etymology origin unclear settlement recorded late 7th early 8th centuries called obscure derive old english word celtic personal derive person group named second half origin refer fortified place likely monastic enclosure english word referring high rock hill old english celtic meaning isle glass time plain flooded isle peninsula low tide location landscape middle meadows rising elevation feet plain reclaimed clearly visible miles described island actually sits western end peninsula washed sides formed rocks dating early period varied layers strata forming succession rocks assigned rocks sit strata forming broader hill stands layers sands acted protecting lower layers erosion iron rich waters spring base flow sandstone iron reinforced produce iron rich oxygen poor water carries dissolved iron iron water surfaces oxygen content rises iron iii iron drops surrounding stone low lying damp ground produce visual effect known appears rise mist optical phenomenon occurs rays light strongly bent pass air layers different temperatures steep thermal atmospheric formed italian term derived powerful legend sides seven deep roughly symmetrical formation remains mystery possible explanations formed result natural layers stone clay farmers middle ages hills crops easier author questions theory agriculture reason creation expected effort concentrated south sunny conditions provide good yield equally deep northern provide little benefit additionally slopes island sheltered locations provide greater return labour involved alternatively flattened paths created grazing cattle explanations suggested including construction defensive iron age hill forts including nearby castle somerset evidence extensive fortification slopes normal form bank ditch evidence arrangement south extensively fortified places early britain concentric rings banks ditches supporting acre enclosure contrast seven rings little space community suggested defensive function linked ball linear kilometre east consists embankment ditch east purpose unclear possible longer defensive barrier associated miles south west built similar manner suggested great celtic sanctuary probably 3rd century including date post roman period link dark age occupation excavation suggests 12th century later historian suggests remains medieval spiral walkway created pilgrims reach church summit similar abbey suggestion remains dimensional labyrinth proposed states classical labyrinth design found world easily walking person eventually reaches pattern evaluating hypothesis easy labyrinth likely place era given occupation substantial modifications farmers monks conclusive excavations carried recent book writes labyrinth ancient sacred structure history pre christian flint tools recovered site visited lasting occupation nearby remains identified site confirmed iron age settlement easily defended island evidence permanent occupation finds including roman pottery suggest visited regular basis excavations undertaken team led revealed evidence dark age occupation 5th 7th centuries later medieval church finds included including forge oriented north south unlikely christian fragments 6th century mediterranean wine cooking oil worn hollow bronze head topped saxon staff christian settlement late saxon early medieval period buildings summit base stone cross demonstrates christian use site period broken head wheel cross dated 10th 11th centuries found way hill head cross stood summit head cross earliest timber church dedicated believed constructed 11th 12th century post holes identified associated monk cells identified destroyed earthquake september according earthquake felt london canterbury wales reported destroyed houses churches england force greater area portsmouth second church dedicated built local sandstone 14th century abbot adam incorporating foundations previous building included stained glass decorated floor tiles portable altar likely monastery michael daughter house granted charter day fair site survived dissolution monasteries tower demolished place execution abbot hanged drawn monks storey tower survives corner buttresses perpendicular bell openings tablet image eagle post dissolution bought funded repair tower including rebuilding north east corner passed generations reverend included 20th century bought memorial dean wells died took control repairs delayed second world war 1960s excavations identified cracks rock suggesting ground moved past combined wind erosion started expose tower repaired concrete erosion caused feet increasing number visitors problem paths laid enable reach summit damaging enhancements access repairs tower including rebuilding carried included replacement masonry damaged earlier repairs new stone quarry model incorporated opening ceremony summer olympics london athletes entered stadium flags displayed model mythology spirituality called meaning isle believed including 12th 13th century writer wales legend associated identified king arthur alleged discovery queen labelled recounted wales author asserts book code possible locations holy close monastery housed cup 19th century resurgence interest celtic mythology associated lord later king came represented entrance land supposedly gateway land dead persistent myth recent origin purported proportions said carved land ancient forms figure representing theory forward artist interest thought constructed approximately years ago vast majority land said covered feet water proposed time construction features field boundaries roads recent sites significant goddess worship flow representing flow seen breast figure goddess celebrated goddess leading annual procession
Glastonbury Tor