Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment
Record
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Pen-y-gaer
Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 4791 Trust : Dyfed Community : Nantcwnlle Unitary authority : Ceredigion NGR : SN577583 Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Hillfort Status : Scheduled Monument
Summary : Situated on a plateau at the end of a promontory at 230m above sea level, Pen y Gaer is an oval-shaped hillfort. To the north, west, south and southeast land falls away steeply from the site, providing wide-ranging views. To the northeast the land falls away a few metres from the site into a shallow saddle before rising gently but steadily to a rounded summit 350m away. The fort is oval, approximately 130m northeast to southwest and 50m northwest of southeast. The interior is level. On the northwest and southeast sides, where the slope is at its steepest, there is no obvious trace of a defensive bank, but the break of slope is here very sharply defined, and one suspects that excavation would reveal a bank. The most easily approachable side, the northeast end, is defended by a bank, up to 2m high externally, but level with the interior. There is no trace of a ditch, but a simple gap in the northwest end of the bank marks the entrance. A slighter bank running at a right angle, northeast, for 20m from the northeast corner of the fort may be also have a defensive function. The southwest end of the fort, which could be approached up the 'nose' of the promontory, is defended by a bank, up to 2m high externally, and ditch. In 2005, the site was under improved pasture. Gorse clearance had just taken place on the steep southeast slopes towards the top of the slope. K Murphy 23 November 2005
Sources :
CADW , 2007 , Notification of scheduling
CADW , 2008 , AM107
K. Murphy, R. Ramsey and M. Page , 2006 , A SURVEY OF DEFENDED ENCLOSURES IN CEREDIGION, 2006: GAZETTEER OF ORDNANCE SURVEY GRID SQUARES SN54 & SN55
DAT , 1983 , CR ,
Hogg,AHA , 1962 , Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies ,
Lewis,S , 1833 , Topographical Dictionary of Wales ,
Murphy,K , 2004 , Assessment of Prehistoric Defended Enclosures 2004-5, Report No 2004-100 ,
Musson,CR , 1992 , AP92-011.14 Close up from NNE, showing former field bndries across hillfort & inturned entrance ,
Musson,CR , 1992 , AP92-011.13 Good location shot of ploughed down hillfort from NE showing entrance ,
Nash-Williams,VE , 1933 , Archaeologia Cambrensis ,
OS , 1962 , S.Britain in the Iron Age ,
OS , 196? ,
OS , 1976 , DRF ,
RCAHM , 1976 ,
Williams,GH , 1977 , DRF ,
