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HER:  Dyfed 14309 (None)
NMR:  SN 73 NE (114143)
SM:  None
NGR:  SN78603550
X:  278600  Y:  235500  (OSGB36)
Possible, complex, bivallate, inland promontory fort located on NE-SW ridge above confluence of Afon Gwydderig and Afon Bran to SW and near confluence with Afon Tywi also on SW. Very steep to precipitous wooded slopes on W, very steep on E sides (wooded on NE and E), moderate to strong on SW and moderate along ridge to NE. Site visible from the air, but only just extant on site. Aerial photographs show outer curving ditch cutting off promontory on NE, with triangular interior to SW of this, enclosed area not determined. Within this internal area is small sub-circular enclosure appearing linked to outer defences by short length of ditch on N. On site outer ditch is clear and defining N edge of the enclosure; best at SE end where rock-cut and c. 2.75m wide. Inner bank to this ditch visible and and traces of outer bank at E end. The outer ditch is cut by N-S ditch, or entranceway, which links the inner and outer enclosures. Sheep track along this. Inner enclosure less distinct, although visible as a ditch with banks either side on W side. In 2008 DAT found further earthwork downslope to S of the promontory fort, which may be an annexe. Site almost destroyed and under improved pasture. Minimal investigations, undated.
Citizen Science:  ✗
Reliability of Data:  Unconfirmed
Reliability of Interpretation:  Unconfirmed
X:  -419678  Y:  6800955  (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude:  -3.7700343597453663  Latitude:  52.00458535192019  (EPSG:4326)
Country:  Wales
Current County or Unitary Authority:  Carmarthenshire
Historic County:  Carmarthenshire
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland:  Llandovery
Much denuded and banks deliberately flattened. Visible as cropmark and just survives as earthwork.
| Extant   | ✓ |
| Cropmark   | ✓ |
| Likely Destroyed   | ✓ |
Improved pasture. Wooded to E and W.
| Woodland   | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation   | ✗ |
| Parkland   | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing)   | ✓ |
| Arable   | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken   | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop   | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland   | ✗ |
| Heath   | ✗ |
| Built-up   | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland   | ✗ |
| Other   | ✗ |
Possible, bivallate, inland promontory fort located on NE-SW ridge above confluence of Afon Gwydderig and Afon Bran to SW and near confluence with Afon Tywi also on SW. Very steep to precipitous wooded slopes on W, very steep on E sides (wooded on NE and E), moderate to strong on SW and moderate along ridge to NE.
| 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:  Ridge
| North   | ✗ |
| Northeast   | ✗ |
| East   | ✗ |
| Southeast   | ✗ |
| South   | ✗ |
| Southwest   | ✓ |
| West   | ✗ |
| Northwest   | ✗ |
| Level   | ✗ |
Altitude:  190.0m
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:   | None |
Field Observation DAT 2003, 2008. Dyfed Archaeological Trust defended enclosures survey 2007-2008.
| Other (None):   | Field Observation DAT. |
| Other (None):   | Dyfed Archaeological Trust defended enclosures survey. |
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   | ✗ |
The outer ditch is cut by N-S ditch, or entrance way, which links the inner and outer enclosures. Sheep track along this route.
| 1:   | None |
| 2:   | None |
Guard Chambers:  ✗
Chevaux de Frise:  ✗
| 1. Other Forms (North east):   | None |
On site outer ditch clear and defining N edge of the enclosure; best at SE end where rock-cut and c. 2.75m wide. Inner bank to this ditch visible and and traces of outer bank at E end.
| Area 1:   | Noneha. |
| Total:   | Noneha. |
Total Footprint Area:  Noneha.
None
| ✗   | Area not defined. |
| ✗   | Complex and ramparts estimated. |
| NE Quadrant:   | 2 |
| SE Quadrant:   | 0 |
| SW Quadrant:   | 0 |
| NW Quadrant:   | 0 |
| Total:   | 2 |
| 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 |
| ✓   | At least two. |
Number of Ditches:  2
| ✓   | In 2008 DAT found further earthwork downslope to S of the promontory fort, which may be an annexe. |
Murphy, F., Ramsey, R., Page, M. and Murphy, K. 2008. A Survey of Defended Enclosures in Carmarthenshire, 2007-08: Gazetteer of Ordnance Survey Grid Squares SN72, SN73, SN74, SN83 and SN84, Dyfed Archaeological Trust Report No. 2007/27, Project Record No. 62767, Llandeilo: Dyfed Archaeological Trust.
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