The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Llanmelin Hillfort, Wood Camps

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01026g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Shirenewton
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : ST46109257
Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Hillfort
Status : Site Cared for by the State

Summary :
Early Iron Age multivallate hillfort, with Roman and medieval reoccupation.

Description :
Initial occupation: The main hillfort was multivallate. The enclosure was roughly elliptical, measuring c230 x 150m, with a secondary rectangular multivallate annexe (c40m x 21m) against the south-east long side and a single interned entrance immediately south of junction between main part and annexe. The ditches were rock-cut and the banks mainly formed from upcast, although on the north-east side the innermost bank was built wholly of rubble, faced with roughly coursed masonry both internally (a vertical face) and externally (battered). SW bank rubble revetment. At least one inner earthwork of annexe secondary.

The earlier of the two phases identified in the defences was of early Iron Age date. The final one, cAD50, involved an extensive remodelling and strengthening of the entrance. A trackway, probably contemporary (but outside the Scheduled area), led from close to the south corner of the annexe westwards obliquely down the hill. The 'Outpost' was also multivallate. It was apparently designed as a satellite to the main fort, and an integral part of its defences (Forde-Johnson 1962, 83).

Very little in the way of recognisable occupation deposits were found within the defences of either of the earthworks. Early Iron Age and Roman pottery was found, none of the latter later than c AD75. On this basis, Nash-Williams confidently asserted that Roman occupation cannot have extended beyond AD 75, but the extremely small percentage of the fort which was excavated means that, although the site was clearly occupied into the Roman period, it would be unwise to give any cut-off date for this occupation.

Reoccupation: Both the annexe to the main fort and the 'Outpost', contained medieval buildings associated with late 12th - early 13th century pottery. They took the form of one-roomed structures of rectangular plan with rounded corners, a type recorded in South Wales throughout the medieval period, and used for buildings on manorial sites as well as for peasants' cottages (Robinson 1982, 103-104). (Wiggins 2006)

In October 2002, Forest research, an agency of the Forestry Commission, undertook an auger survey of three sites as part of an MSc dissertation "A soil guide to longevity: woodland soil chemistry and implications for the buried archaeological resource". The three sites comprised Welshbury Hillfort and Lower Knole Farm in Gloucestershire, and Llanmelin Hillfort in Monmouthshire.

The chemical analysis of the results of the auger survey suggested that Llanmelin Hillfort had previously been farmed, possibly in the medieval period (Crow 2002). Aerial photographs show unusual shaped Iron age hillfort situated on a hill north of Caerwent. Unusual shape having an extension down the hill. Not a defensive feature, possibly a prestige entrance. (Sorrell 2017)

Sources :
Crow, P , 2002 , Comparative study of soil chemistry under different land management regimes
Evans E M & Locock M , 1994 , RAF Caerwent Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment ( © GGAT)
Evans, E M , 2004 , Early Medieval Ecclesiastical sites in Southeast Wales: Rapid field survey of selected sites
Nash-Williams V.E , 1930 , The Fortified Hill Settlement at Llanmelin Monmouthshire. , The Buletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : V pt. III : 274-277
Nash-Williams V.E , 1930 , The Fortified Hill-Settlement at Llanmelin, Monmouthshire. , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 85 : 421-423
Nash-Williams V.E , 1931 , The Early Iron Age Hill-Settlement at Llanmelin, Monmouthshire. , The Buletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : VI pt.I : 92-93
Nash-Williams V.E , 1931 , The Early Iron Age Hill-Settlemnt at Llanmelin,Mon. , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 86 : 365-366
Nash-Williams V.E , 1932 , The Fortified Hill-Settlement at Llanmelin, Mon. , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 87 : 393
Nash-Williams V.E , 1932 , The Fortified Hill-Settlement at Llanmelin, Monmouthshire. , The Buletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : VI pt.III : 288-289
Nash-Williams V.E , 1933 , Appendix II of ''an Early Iron age Hill-fort at Llanmelin, Caerwent''. Note on the Distribution of Hill-forts and other Earthworks in Wales and the marches. , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 88 : 311-346
Nash-Williams, V E , 1933 , An Early Iron Age hillfort at Llanmelin, Monmouthshire, Archaeologia Cambrensis : 88 : 237-346
Pannett, A. and Pudney, C. , 2012 , Llanmenlin Hillfort Excavation: Assessment Report
Pannett, A. and Pudney, C. , 2012 , Llanmenlin Hillfort Excavation: Assessment Report
Savory H.N. , 1950 , List of Hill-Forts and Other Earthworks in Wales: II Monmouthshire , The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : XIII pt.IV : 231-238
Savory H.N. , 1950 , List of Hill-Forts and Other Earthworks in Wales: II Monmouthshire , The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : XIII pt.IV : 231-238
Varley W.J. , 1948 , The Hill Forts of the Welsh Marches , The Acrhaeological Journal : CV : 41-66
Wiggins, H , 2006 , Prehistoric defended enclosures in Gwent ( © GGAT)
01/Mm AP Gazeteer/2004 January/Sorrell John/Aerial Archaeological Photographs of Gwent/SMR

Events :
E000296 : Llanmelin Wood Camps (year : 1991)
E001386 : Early medieval ecclesiastical sites in Southeast Wales desk based assessment (year : 2003)
E001437 : Llanmelin (year : 2004)
E001550 : Prehistoric defended enclosures Gwent (year : 2006)
E003914 : RAF Caerwent (year : 1994)
E003672 : Caerwent to Earlswood Pipeline (year : 1991)
E004007 : RAF Caerwent (year : 1994)
E004748 : Llanmelin Hillfort (year : 2002)
E006164 : Llanmelin Hillfort, Caerwent (year : 2012)
E008773 : GGAT52: Monmouthshire Historic Settlements, Caldicot & Raglan (year : 1999)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 301559 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/301559/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04437g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 06171g

Compiled date : 02-05-1988


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