Satellite Imagery
Satellite Imagery
HER: Dyfed 3827 (None)
NMR: SN 20 NW 5 (304169)
SM: CM019(CAM)
NGR: SN22830765
X: 222830 Y: 207650 (OSGB36)
Fairly large and complex coastal promontory fort located on Gilman Point, a WSW-facing headland overlooking Carmarthen Bay and dominating Pendine Sands to E. Steep slopes c. 90m above sea on E, S and W, moderate landward to NNE. Triangular in shape, steep natural slopes form the defence to the E, S and W with triple system of defences cutting off the headland on the N. Internal area c. 0.29ha. Curving outer bank c. 2m high internally, 3.3m high externally and outer rock-cut ditch c. 1-1.5m deep. Outer defence forms highest point of promontory. Inner defences slighter than outer bank and ditch, but still visible on site as earthwork banks running SW down the slope towards the cliff, aerial photographs suggest continued E to enclose the whole headland. In interior another slighter rampart and ditch divide the enclosure into two parts. and could signify an earlier enclosure or later demarcation. On N side of the fort, outside main defences, is an 'annexe' formed within a low, curving boundary of large rough stones block walls and inturned entrance. Possibly earlier enclosure, but uncertain. The distinctive form of this annexe has led to its being recorded separately as 'Napps Circle' (SN20NW 6). Roundhouse circles have been noted within both the 'annexe' and the fort (Rees 1992, 84), whilst field system identified on steep W slopes. The whole site is under rough coastal pasture, bracken and gorse. On 1st Ed. OS map (1889). Minimal investigations, undated.
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -508449 Y: 6753148 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -4.56747476813577 Latitude: 51.73943501910517 (EPSG:4326)
Country: Wales
Current County or Unitary Authority: Carmarthenshire
Historic County: Carmarthenshire
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Eglwyscummin
Coastal path.
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
The whole site is under rough coastal pasture, bracken and gorse.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✗ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✓ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✗ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✓ |
| Other | ✗ |
Fairly large and complex coastal promontory fort located on Gilman Point, a WSW-facing headland overlooking Carmarthen Bay and dominating Pendine Sands to E. Steep slopes c. 90m above sea on E, S and W, moderate landward to to NNE.
| 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: Coastal headland.
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✓ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✗ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✗ |
Altitude: 90.0m
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 |
On 1st Ed. OS map (1889). Field Observation OS 1967, 1975. Field Observation AMB 1983. Field Observation DAT 1985, 1994. Field Observation CADW 1999.
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1889): | OS map. |
| Other (1983): | Field observation AMB. |
| Other (1999): | Field observation CADW. |
| Other (None): | Field observation OS. |
| Other (None): | Field observation DAT. |
Roundhouse circles have been noted within both the 'annexe' and the fort (Rees 1992, 84).
None
| None | ✓ |
| Spring | ✗ |
| Stream | ✗ |
| Pool | ✗ |
| Flush | ✗ |
| Well | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Roundhouse circles have been noted within both the 'annexe' and the fort (Rees 1992, 84).
| 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 | ✗ |
On N side of the fort, outside main defences, is a possible 'annexe', formed within a low, curving boundary of large rough stones block walls and inturned entrance. The distinctive form of this 'annexe' has led to its being recorded separately as 'Napps Circle' (SN20NW 6), hence entrance inclusion here.
| 1: | None |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. In-turned (North): | Entrance to possible 'annexe' or earlier enclosure. |
Triple system of defences cutting off the headland on the N. Curving outer bank c. 2m high internally, 3.3m high externally and outer rock-cut ditch c. 1-1.5m deep. Outer defence forms highest point of promontory. Inner defences slighter than outer bank and ditch, but still visible on site as earthwork banks running SW down the slope towards the cliff.
| Area 1: | 0.29ha. |
| Total: | 0.29ha. |
Total Footprint Area: Noneha.
None
| ✗ | None |
| ✗ | None |
| NE Quadrant: | 3 |
| SE Quadrant: | 0 |
| SW Quadrant: | 0 |
| NW Quadrant: | 3 |
| Total: | 3 |
| 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 rock-cut. |
Number of Ditches: 2
| ✓ | Possible. On N side of the fort, outside main defences, is an 'annexe' formed within a low, curving boundary of large rough stones block walls and inturned entrance. Possibly earlier enclosure, but uncertain. The distinctive form of this annexe has led to its being recorded separately as 'Napps Circle' (SN20NW 6). Roundhouse circles have been noted within the 'annexe'. However, all this is unclear. |
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 SN20 and SN21, Dyfed Archaeological Trust Report No. 2007/27, Project Record No. 62767, Llandeilo: Dyfed Archaeological Trust.
Royal Commission on the ancient and historical monuments and constructions in Wales and Monmouthshire 1917. An inventory of the ancient monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire, V, Carmarthen, 701, London: HMSO.
Rees, S. 1992. A guide to ancient and historic Wales - Dyfed, London: HMSO, 84.
Savory, H.N. 1954. List of hill-forts and other earthworks in Carmarthenshire. Bull Board Celtic Stud, 16, 57.
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