There is much evidence in the landscape of its rich history, from prehistoric settlement and activity to World War II archaeology.
The prehistoric henges of Gorsey Bigbury and Priddy Circles, and over 300 Bronze Age barrows contribute to, a ritual landscape of national significance. Large hill forts from the Iron Age such as Dolebury and smaller sites such as Banwell suggest a complex pattern of territories and lordship. Field patterns reflect the various histories of enclosure and settlement. Quarries and other pitted landscapes reveal lead mining and other extraction activity, some of which still continues today.