LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
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HER: Glamorgan Gwent 00116m (None)
NMR: SS 88 NW (301303)
SM: GM059
NGR: SS83888855
X: 283880 Y: 188550 (OSGB36)
Large complex multiple enclosure hillslope fort located on E slope of the spur of Mynydd Margam. Steep surrounding slopes to N, less so elsewhere. Of 4.4ha internal area, site often thought to be predominantly pastoral in nature as result of widely-spaced banks and small central enclosure of c. 0.3ha and 64m across, with an impressive bank and ditch and outer bank, ditch and counterscarp c.18m wide in total. Two or three small banks lie outside this inner core on S and W. On N side is a single bank, ditch and counterscarp at the head of a steep valley. The main facing E has its outer ramparts turn to form a funnelling approach way at the end of which they swing back to enclose the roughly concentric curvilinear 4.1ha outer enclosure. This rests on the steep slopes above Cwm Cerdin to N and elsewhere seems defined by two widely-spaced ramparts. In SE corner is a rectangular enclosure, c. 50m N-S by 38m, attached to the outer rampart, with discontinuous banks and shallow, but broad, ditch. Possibly three entrances. Main entrance to central enclosure is simple gap sited on E. On NW side a simple gap may be original where a old track enters the site. On the E, a gap entrance has a hollow causeway running from it to the inner enclosure entrance. Possible phased development, but later features confuse matters. To E of hillfort are a further house platform and cairnfield (possibly farming clearance). Other features include a continuation of the outer rampart across the approach to the main entrance, with house platform, and outer circuit located within larger, weakly defined 7.4ha enclosure. Rough pasture. Good condition despite cultivation in past. Date and origin of these unknown. On 1st Ed. OS map (1876-77). Minimal investigations, undated.
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -409368 Y: 6725211 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -3.677417213129527 Latitude: 51.58376194892613 (EPSG:4326)
Country: Wales
Current County or Unitary Authority: Bridgend
Historic County: Glamorgan
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Llangynwyd Middle
Good condition despite cultivation in past, later trackways and field boundaries.
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
Rough pasture.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✓ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✗ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Large complex hillslope multiple enclosure site on the E slope of the spur of Mynydd Margam. Steep surrounding slopes to N, less so elsewhere.
| Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Partial Contour Fort | ✗ |
| Promontory Fort | ✗ |
| Hillslope Fort | ✓ |
| Level Terrain Fort | ✗ |
| Marsh Fort | ✗ |
| Multiple Enclosure Fort | ✓ |
| Hilltop | ✗ |
| Coastal Promontory | ✗ |
| Inland Promontory | ✗ |
| Valley Bottom | ✗ |
| Knoll/Hillock/Outcrop | ✗ |
| Ridge | ✗ |
| Cliff/Plateau-edge/Scarp | ✗ |
| Hillslope | ✓ |
| Lowland | ✗ |
| Spur | ✓ |
Dominant Topographic Feature: Hillslope
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✓ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✗ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✗ |
Altitude: 275.0m
N/A
None
Reliability: D - None
| Pre 1200BC | ✗ |
| 1200BC - 800BC | ✗ |
| 800BC - 400BC | ✗ |
| 400BC - AD50 | ✗ |
| AD50 - AD400 | ✗ |
| AD400 - AD 800 | ✗ |
| Post AD800 | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✓ |
| Pre Hillfort: | None |
| Post Hillfort: | Medieval type house platforms suggested by RCHMW (Coflein). |
On 1st Ed. OS map (1876-77). RCAHMW investigation 1967. GGAT Prehistoric defended enclosures in Glamorgan survey 2005.
| Other (1967): | RCAHMW investigation. |
| Other (2005): | GGAT Prehistoric defended enclosures in Glamorgan survey. |
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (None): | OS map |
None
None
| None | ✓ |
| Spring | ✗ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✗ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| No Known Features | ✓ |
| Round Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Rectangular Stone Structures | ✗ |
| Curvilinear Platforms | ✗ |
| Other Roundhouse Evidence | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| No Known Excavation | ✓ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
None
| No Known Geophysics | ✓ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Quarry Hollows | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
| Nothing Found | ✗ |
None
| No Known Finds | ✓ |
| Pottery | ✗ |
| Metal | ✗ |
| Metalworking | ✗ |
| Human Bones | ✗ |
| Animal Bones | ✗ |
| Lithics | ✗ |
| Environmental | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| APs Not Checked | ✓ |
| None | ✗ |
| Roundhouses | ✗ |
| Rectangular Structures | ✗ |
| Pits | ✗ |
| Postholes | ✗ |
| Roads/Tracks | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Main entrance to central enclosure is simple gap sited on E. On NW side a simple gap may be original where a old track enters the site. On the E, a gap entrance on the outer circuit has a hollow causeway running from it to the inner enclosure entrance.
| 3: | None |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. Simple Gap (East): | Main entrance to central enclosure. |
| 2. Simple Gap (North west): | None |
| 3. Simple Gap (East): | Hollow causeway runs from it to the inner enclosure entrance. |
Small central enclosure of c. 0.3ha and 64m across, with an impressive bank and ditch and outer bank, ditch and counterscarp c.1 8m wide in total. Two or three small banks lie outside this inner core on S and W. On N side is a single bank, ditch and counterscarp at the head of a steep valley. In SE corner is a rectangular enclosure, c. 50m N-S by 38m, attached to the outer rampart, with discontinuous banks and shallow, but broad, ditch. Roughly concentric curvilinear 4.1ha outer enclosure.
| Area 1: | 0.3ha. |
| Area 2: | 4.1ha. |
| Total: | 4.1ha. |
Total Footprint Area: Noneha.
None
| ✓ | Inner enclosure of 0.3ha with outer of 4.1, with widely-spaced ramparts |
| ✓ | Very complex sequence and quadrants estimated. |
| NE Quadrant: | 5 |
| SE Quadrant: | 6 |
| SW Quadrant: | 5 |
| NW Quadrant: | 5 |
| Total: | 6 |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✓ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✓ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
None
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✓ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Rubble | ✗ |
| Wall-walk | ✗ |
| Evidence of Timber | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✓ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
None
| None | ✗ |
| Earthen Bank | ✗ |
| Stone Wall | ✗ |
| Murus Duplex | ✗ |
| Timber-framed | ✗ |
| Timber-laced | ✗ |
| Vitrification | ✗ |
| Other Burning | ✗ |
| Palisade | ✗ |
| Counter Scarp Bank | ✗ |
| Berm | ✗ |
| Unfinished | ✗ |
| No Known Excavation | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
| ✗ | None |
| ✓ | Ditches number estimated. |
Number of Ditches: 5
| ✗ | None |
Fox, A. 1952. Hill-Slope Forts and Related Earthworks in South-West England and South Wales, Arch J, 109 (1952), 1-22.
Fox, C.F. and Fox, A. 1934. Forts and farms on Margam Mountain, Glamorgan, Antiquity, 8, 395-413.
Gerrard, C., Wiggins, H., and Evans, E. 2006. Prehistoric defended enclosures in Glamorgan with recommendations for fieldwork: Year 3 Report, GGAT Report No 2006/089, Project No GGAT78, Swansea: GGAT.
RCAHMW 1976. An inventory of the ancient monuments in Glamorgan, 1.2, Pre-Norman, Parts I-III, 693, Cardiff: HMSO.
Whittle, E. 1992. A guide to ancient and historic Wales - Glamorgan and Gwent, London: HMSO, 34-5.
Atlas of Hillforts:
Wikidata:
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
and should be cited as:
Lock, Gary and Ralston, Ian. 2024. Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland. Available at: https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk
Document Version 1.1