Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment
Record
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Esgair Nant Yr Arian
Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 4136 Trust : Dyfed Community : Melindwr Unitary authority : Ceredigion NGR : SN710816 Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Promontory Fort
Summary : Well-preserved earthworks mark the site of this fort. It is situated at the western end of a ridge-top; this slopes steeply down from the site to the north, west and south - the approach from the east along the ridge is fairly level. Two lines of widely spaced rampart run across the ridge forming what is essentially a promontory fort, although a ridge-end fort is probably a better descriptive term. Both ramparts take advantage of rising ground. The outer rampart runs for c.30m across the ridge. It begins at the north steep slope, but stops short of the south steep slope. Overall it is about 13m wide, with the c. 6m wide bank rising 1m above the interior side of the fort and up to 5m above the base of the ditch. The ditch is up to 4m wide and 2m deep at its deepest. A 1m high and 3m wide counterscarp bank lies on the outer lip of the ditch. A modern 3m gap has been driven through this rampart towards its northern end. The inner rampart lies some 20m west of the outer and consists of a c.8m wide bank rising 1m above the fort's interior and 2m - 3m above the ditch. The ditch is not so marked as that on the outer rampart and is very overgrown - it is about 6m wide and 1m deep. This rampart is about 50m long and as with the outer one starts on the north steep slope. A gap about 2m wide close the south steep slope marks a simple entrance. The interior of the fort is about 100m long east - west and 40m-50m north to south. There is a hint that the inner rampart curves around to the west at its northern end before fading in the steep slope. Apart from this there is no trace of defences to the north, west and south. The land in the interior is fairly level immediately behind the inner rampart but then rises on to a rocky knoll at the west end before falling sharply away. The fort including the ramparts and environs is under a mature coniferous plantation with a dense bramble ground cover; this undoubtedly obscures many subtle features. K Murphy 21 February 2006
Description : A bivallate hillfort, with strong, widely spaced ramparts cutting off the end of a promontory. It has been overplanted with conifers.
Sources :
K. Murphy, R. Ramsey and M. Page , 2006 , A SURVEY OF DEFENDED ENCLOSURES IN CEREDIGION, 2006: GAZETTEER OF ORDNANCE SURVEY GRID SQUARES SN75, SN76, SN77 & SN78
Hall,J & Sambrook,P , 2003 , Melindwr Community Audit ,
Hogg,AHA , 1957 ,
Hogg,AHA , 1962 , Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies ,
Hughes,IT , 1926 , T.Cardiganshire AS ,
Morgan,E , 1994 ,
Morgan,E , 1994 , DAT94-30.35-37 ,
Morgan,E , 1994 , Goginan Forest Design Plan ,
Murphy,K , 2004 , Assessment of Prehistoric Defended Enclosures 2004-5, Report No 2004-100 ,
OS , 1957 ,
OS , 1978 , DRF ,
RAF , 1946 ,
Wigfall,S , 1994 ,
Events : 68536 : ESGAIR NANT YR ARIAN, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1957 (year : 1957) 86792 : ESGAIR NANT YR ARIAN, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1978 (year : 1978) 90467 : ESGAIR NANT YR ARIAN, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1994 (year : 1994) 91810 : ESGAIR NANT YR ARIAN, FIELD OBSERVATION, 1994 (year : 1994) 54269 : PREHISTORIC DEFENDED ENCLOSURES: CEREDIGION (year : 2007)
