LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
LiDAR 1m DTM Hillshade
Satellite Imagery
Scroll left/right to view further images.
HER: Dyfed 1997 (None)
NMR: SN 67 SW (303579)
SM: CD050
NGR: SN64887188
X: 264880 Y: 271880 (OSGB36)
Prominent, multivallate, contour hillfort located on steep E-W ridge at the headwaters of the Afon Wyre above a bend on the Afon Ystwyth, the spine of ridge ascending on E side from the Trawsgoed basin on the Ystwyth. Strategic and commanding location. Moderate to strong surrounding slopes on N, E and W, steep on S down to minor valley below. Roughly rectangular in shape, measuring c. 265m N-S by 120m overall and 180m by 100 internally enclosing 1.75ha, following the contours. Double bank and ditch on N, curving round to E and W, where outer bank fades and defences single. Rampart slightest where steep slope on S. Inner rampart of shale rubble and clay with traces of stone revetment visible where eroded, rising to c. 4m high and 10m wide. Traces of stone capping on rampart top to SE. Remains of outer rock-cut ditch on SE side probably continued at least around rest of E and N sides. On W side rampart smaller and more of a scarp bank. Widely-spaced terraces flank the fort in part, with the two gates positioned behind, as at Pen Dinas, Aberystwyth. Davies and Hogg (1994, 261) suggests that perhaps the outer rampart is an unfinished addition, but this is questionable. Main inturned entrance on S where E bastion larger than on W. On N smaller, less elaborate, gateway giving access down steep slope to the outer terrace. Gap on E modern. Under improved pasture, but ploughing in interior and on part of banks damaged site. On 1st Ed. OS map (1888). Minimal investigations, undated.
Citizen Science: ✗
Reliability of Data: Confirmed
Reliability of Interpretation: Confirmed
X: -443528 Y: 6859705 (EPSG: 3857)
Longitude: -3.9842841315512123 Latitude: 52.32829752219988 (EPSG:4326)
Country: Wales
Current County or Unitary Authority: Ceredigion
Historic County: Cardiganshire
Current Parish/Community/Council/Townland: Llanilar
Ploughing on parts of W bank, reducing to scarp and spreading remains, and interior damaged site.
| Extant | ✓ |
| Cropmark | ✗ |
| Likely Destroyed | ✗ |
Improved pasture.
| Woodland | ✗ |
| Commercial Forestry Plantation | ✗ |
| Parkland | ✗ |
| Pasture (Grazing) | ✓ |
| Arable | ✗ |
| Scrub/Bracken | ✗ |
| Bare Outcrop | ✗ |
| Heather/Moorland | ✗ |
| Heath | ✗ |
| Built-up | ✗ |
| Coastal Grassland | ✗ |
| Other | ✗ |
Prominent, multivallate, contour hillfort located on steep E-W ridge at the headwaters of the Afon Wyre above a bend on the Afon Ystwyth, the spine of ridge ascending on E side from the Trawsgoed basin on the Ystwyth. Strategic and commanding location. Moderate to strong surrounding slopes on N, E and W, steep on S down to minor valley below.
| 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: Hill top
| North | ✗ |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| East | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| South | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| West | ✗ |
| Northwest | ✗ |
| Level | ✓ |
Altitude: 280.0m
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 (1888). Cambria archaeology defended enclosures survey 2006.
| 1st Identified Map Depiction (1888): | OS map. |
| Other (2006): | Cambria archaeology defended enclosures survey |
Chance find of iron slag, potentially Iron Age, within loose stone of ploughed down remains of S rampart, close to W angle with SW rampart in Ceredigion Museum.
Stream 0.3 km below fort.
| 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 | ✗ |
Chance find of iron slag, potentially Iron Age, within loose stone of ploughed down remains of S rampart, close to W angle with SW rampart in Ceredigion Museum.
| 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 inturned entrance on S, where E bastion larger than on W. On N smaller, less elaborate, gateway giving access down steep slope to the outer terrace. Gap on E modern. Widely-spaced terraces flank the fort in part, with the two gates positioned behind, as at Pen Dinas, Aberystwyth.
| 3: | Gap on E modern. |
| 2: | None |
Guard Chambers: ✗
Chevaux de Frise: ✗
| 1. In-turned (South): | Main inturned entrance on S, where E bastion larger than on W. |
| 2. Simple Gap (North): | On N smaller, less elaborate, gateway giving access down steep slope to the outer terrace. |
Double bank and ditch on N, curving round to E and W, where outer bank fades and defences single. Rampart slightest where steep slope on S. Inner rampart of shale rubble and clay with traces of stone revetment visible where eroded, rising to c. 4m high and 10m wide. Traces of stone capping on rampart top to SE. Remains of outer rock-cut ditch on SE side probably continued at least around rest of E and N sides. On W side rampart smaller and more of a scarp bank.
| Area 1: | 1.75ha. |
| Total: | 1.75ha. |
Total Footprint Area: Noneha.
None
| ✗ | None |
| ✗ | None |
| NE Quadrant: | 2 |
| SE Quadrant: | 1 |
| SW Quadrant: | 1 |
| NW Quadrant: | 2 |
| Total: | 2 |
| Partial Univallate | ✓ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✓ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
| Unknown | ✗ |
| Partial Univallate | ✗ |
| Univallate | ✗ |
| Partial Bivallate | ✗ |
| Bivallate | ✗ |
| Partial Multivallate | ✗ |
| Multivallate | ✗ |
Inner rampart of shale rubble and clay with traces of stone revetment visible where eroded. Traces of stone capping on rampart top to SE. Hogg (1994, 261) suggests that perhaps the outer rampart is an unfinished addition, but this is questionable. Main
| 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 |
| ✓ | None |
Number of Ditches: 2
| ✗ | None |
Davies, J.L. and Hogg, A.H.A. 1994. The Iron Age, in eds Davies, J.L and Kirby, D.P. From the earliest times to the coming of the Normans, Cardiganshire County History, Vol 1, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 220-74.
Hogg, A.H.A. 1962. List of hill-forts in Cardiganshire, Bull Board Celtic Stud, 19, 363.
Hughes, I.T. 1926. A regional survey of the prehistoric earthworks of North Cardiganshire, Trans Cardiganshire Ant Soc, 4 (1926), 22-56.
Murphy, K, Ramsey, R. and Page, M. 2006. A survey of defended enclosures in Ceredigion 2006: Gazetteer of Ordnance Survey Grid Square SN67, Project Report No. 2006/20, Project Record No. 54269, Llandeilo: Cambria Archaeology.
Rees, S, 1992. A guide to ancient and historic Wales - Dyfed, 214, London: HMSO, 214.
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