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Dinas Powis (Hillfort)

Coflein description:
This is a small promontory fort crowning the highest northern spur of an isolated hill. It rests above steep slopes except on the south, where it faces the relatively level hilltop. The site was extensively excavated in 1954-9 when much early medieval material was recovered. The excavator considered this to be an early medieval fort occupying the site of an open Iron Age settlement, all overlain by a massively enclosed earthwork castle. The many caveats attending this interpretation make it problematic.
The fort is a roughly oval 0.08ha enclosure mostly defined by a broad ditched rampart with a palisade on the north. The entrance was at the north-west extremity and would have been approached along the rocky spine of the steep slopes below. There are three additional lines of ramparts on the south, one of which may have continued around the west side. The inner rampart was revetted in stone and appears to have had a timber-framed breastwork. The second rampart, also ditched, is relatively insubstantial. The two outer ramparts are again massive and appear to have been conceived as a pair, the inner again stone revetted. Traces of two rectangular buildings up to 7.5m wide were recorded in the interior.
The finds were mostly early medieval, but also included Roman material and fragments of a twelfth century pot. The ramparts overlay deposits containing Iron Age pottery. The fort does not resemble a medieval castle, but rather a later Prehistoric style hillfort and may have been established as late as the Roman period. It was clearly occupied into the early medieval period and the internal buildings could relate to this or else to an ambiguous phase signalled by the twelfth century pottery.
A bank and ditch (Bank V) running south from the fort is an old field boundary shown on the 1st edition OS County series (Glamorgan. XLVII.5 1880) and may have been connected with the enigmatic 'causeway'.
There is a second defended enclosure 130m away on the southern edge of the hilltop (NPRN 307785).

Sources: Alcock 'Dinas Powys' (1963), University of Wales Press
RCAHMW Glamorgan Inventory III.1a The Earlier Castles (1991), 95-100

John Wiles 14.02.08


Southern earthwork:
This is a rectilinear earthwork enclosure set on the southern edge of a hilltop. The site was trenched in 1958.
The earthworks consist of the north-west and north-east sides of a sharp angled enclosure at least 60m north-east to south-west by 50m, resteing elsewhere above natural slopes. It was enclosed by a stone revetted bank fronted by a ditch with a second rampart and ditch on the north-west side, with an entrance at its north-east end.
This appears to be a later Prehistoric style settlement enclosure, an interpretation confirmed by the presence of Iron Age pottery in the rampart material. A more powerfully enclosed hillfort occupies the tip of the hilltop 130m to the north (NPRN 301314).

Sources: Alcock 'Dinas Powys' (1963), 5-6, 19-22
RCAHMW Glamorgan Inventory III.1a The Earlier Castles (1991), 98

John Wiles 14.02.08

Bradlow Knoll (Round Barrow(s))

From the Herefordshire SMR:

Field Investigator's Comments, EH Malvern Hills AONB Project fieldwork by Herefordshire Archaeology:
The summit of Bradlow Knoll is an approximately circular mound which could be artificial. It is possible that it is a round barrow. The place name is also suggestive.

Pole Cottage (Round Barrow(s))

English Heritage description:
The monument includes the remains of a substantial round barrow situated on a flat open hilltop. The barrow is visible as a flat topped mound of earth and stone, 24m in diameter and up to 1.5m high. The summit of the mound has been disturbed by exploration at some time in the past, creating a central crater 5m in diameter and 0.6m deep. Although no longer discernible as a surface feature, a ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument, surrounds the mound. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature some 2m wide.

Minton Hill (Round Barrow(s))

English Heritage description:
The monument includes a substantial round barrow situated on the summit of Minton Hill. The barrow is visible as a circular, well defined stony mound, 16m in diameter and 1m high. The flattened summit of the mound has been disturbed by exploration at some time in the past creating a central hollow 2m in diameter and 0.3m deep. Although no longer discernible as a surface feature, a ditch, from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument, surrounds the mound. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature some 2m wide.

Egryn Abbey (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

A very well-preserved Iron Age round house site, approximately halfway between the Neolithic Carneddau Hengwm and the Bronze Age Hengwm cairn circle.

Excavated in 2003 by University of Bangor and Gwynedd Archaeological Trust staff.

Tyddyn y Felin (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

GAT description:
A "concentric circle" type homestead of Prehistoric date (c. 500 BC) enclosed by massive circular stone banks. The site is located to the east of Tyddyn-y-felin and has other remains associated to the south.

Sources :
Riley, H. & Roberts, R. , 1995 , Ceilwart to Barmouth Mains Refurbishment: Archaeological Assessment

Bass Hill (Artificial Mound)

From Canmore:
Numerous interments of human bodies were found, all of them regularly placed, and many of them in Gaelic sarcophagi of four pieces of thin stone. In 1812 was found on the Bass a stone hatchet, among ashes. The site was probably a Bronze Age burial site.

(D Erskine 1828)

A natural mound with an artificial mound on top. To the W and S the artificial mound is indistinguishable from the natural steep slope towards the river. A modern construction called 'The Temple of the Muse' in memory of the poet Thomson, is built on top of this artificial mound, which was probably erected to form a base for it.

Twyn Yr Hyddod (Ring Cairn)

From GGAT record:
A small well-preserved round cairn within the remains of a ring cairn or low counterscarp bank. A triangulation pillar has been erected on top of the cairn, but the damage is minimal.

The round cairn is 6.60m in diameter and 0.50m high. The ring cairn/counterscarp is 13.3m in external diameter, 1.5m wide and 0.20m high.

The ring cairn is best preserved on the southern third of its circumference, the remainder of its circuit having been largely destroyed.

The site stands on the summit of Twyn yr Hyddod with spectacular views over the Sirhywi valley to the east and the Brecon Beacons to the north.

Hannibal's Carn (Natural Rock Feature)

Carolyn Kennett (CarolynK on TMA) took us to this special site. A gap between the rock of the tor forms an aperture that frames Carn Galva to the west. The midsummer sunset can be viewed sinking along the crest of the rocky ridge.

Whether it's a natural arrangement or has been set up to give this view, I guess we'll never be sure.

Conquer Downs (Cairn(s))

There is a further large barrow on Lady Downs at SW 4717 3651. Cornwall & Scilly HER description:
tumulus is marked at Lady Downs on current OS maps. Edmonds mentions a barrow 80ft (24.48m) in diameter and between five and six feet (1.52m to 1.83m) high. Henderson recorded "a very large ring type barrow, 66ft diameter (20.19m) and composed of loose stones. It is in a very mutilated condition and no large stones remain evidently due to having been used as a quarry". Survey by the OS in 1961 recorded that the barrow is as described by Henderson and now has a maximum height of 1.7m.

Lle'r Neuaddau Circle (Kerbed Cairn)

A quick update on access: my old OS map shows the circle as being outside the access land area, so I went and asked in the farmyard (three people, one barking dog) where permission and directions were readily given.

I do note however that the latest editions of the OS 1:250000 map available online show the site as being within the open access land boundary now, so no permission is technically needed. Given its proximity to the farm and the fact the easy and obvious route to it is through the farmyard, asking still seems like a good idea and may be appreciated (if anyone is around to ask, other than the dog).

Penybegwyn (Round Cairn)

Coflein description:
A possible cairn, set upon a summit, 8.0m in diameter and 0.4m high, has had a shelter constructed into its centre and an OS triangulation pillar erected upon its S margins.

There are reports of a circular feature, or earthwork in this vicinity.

Gelli-benuchel (Cairn(s))

Coflein descriptions:
I - at SN81150591 13.4m in diameter and 0.6m high, with indications of internal structure and having a modern shelter constructed over its N side;

II - at SN81200589 7.0m in diameter and showing signs of robbing.

III - at SN8105005840 A simple regular, round cairn, 8.0m in diameter and 0.3m high, with occasional kerbing showing about the perimeter.

Carn Cornel (Cairn(s))

Coflein descriptions of the two cairns:
Large round cairn (A) measuring c. 20.4m long from E to W by c. 17.7m wide and 0.9m high. The base of the mound may be partly natural and the actual cairn appears to have been circular and about 15.2m in diameter. A kerb of slabs laid flat is visible for a short distance to the S. At the centre are irregular hollows and a dry-built modern shelter.

At 12m NE of cairn A is another circular mound of stones about 7.6m in diameter and 0.6m high. A deep central hollow testifies to disturbance and shows the cairn is built mainly of slabs lying flat upon one another.

Maenllwyd y Rhos (Standing Stones)

This is almost definitely a natural rock outcrop on the boundary between common heath and forestry. The site consists of a massive stone block, c.2m high x 3m wide x 3.5m long, originally recorded as a possible standing stone by the RCAHM in 1914, which lies in association with other outcropping rocks. Natural feature. N Cook PFRS 2004

Prehistoric Funerary & Ritual Sites Project Pembrokeshire 2003-2004 ( © DAT)

Ffos-y-frân (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery)

Coflein description:

Five cairns, 2.1-3.4m across and 0.1m high, have been noted in an area of "faint humps", possibly representing further cairns.

Merthyr Common (Cairn(s))

5 cairns marked on the OS 1:25000 map, in a line running from NNW to SSE over the course of about 3/4 of a mile. Coflein descriptions, NNW - SSE:
Cairn I (SO0751705038)

This Bronze Age cairn lies on a relatively level part of Merthyr Common. It measures 5.2 metres in diameter and stands 0.30 metres high with a slight dip in its centre. It is grass-covered so the make-up and structure of the cairn cannot be ascertained.

Round barrow (SO0754504975)

First surveyed in 1960, this low, grass-covered, stony mound lies to the east of the minor road, NPRN 528728, that runs down Merthyr Common. It measures 8.5 metres east to west by 6.1 metres and 0.2 metres high. When the area was surveyed as part of the Uplands Initiative by Trysor in 2012 vegetation cover was grass.

Ring cairn (SO0773904493)

This small ring cairn is one of several cairns on this relatively level area of Merthyr Common. It measures about 9 metres overall, with the ring itself being 3 metres wide and 0.3 metres high. It is grass-covered but a few stones can be seen, the southwest part of the cairn has been damaged by vehicles in the past.

Possible ring cairn (SO0779304404)

This cairn on the eastern side of the minor road across Merthyr Common measures 16.8m in overall diameter. It is defined by an encircling bank of stones 2.5m wide and 0.4m high on the west, diminishing to 1.8m wide and 0.3m high on the east. Whether a robbed round cairn or possible ring cairn is uncertain. Previously surveyed in 1960 and 1979.
A centrally placed electricity pole has been sawn off at the base. When the area was surveyed as part of the Uplands Initiative by Trysor in 2012 vegetation cover was grass and moss.

Possible ring cairn II (SO0785004250)

A turf-covered ring of stones measures 14.9m (N-S) by 13.7m overall, 1.5m wide and 0.2m high. A large amount of loose stone at the centre of the ring suggests the former presence of an internal platform though possibly caused by more recent stone dumping. Like its neighbour it is unclear whether this is a robbed round cairn or a disturbed ring cairn.

An electricity pole has previously been inserted into the inside of the ring on the south, but this has now been refused.

Mynydd Cilfach-yr-Encil (Cairn(s))

Coflein descriptions, north to south:
Northern cairn I (SO0792003970)

A turf-covered cairn with many stones exposed, much of the cairn having been robbed. There are no visible traces of a cist or other structural features, nor of a surrounding ditch. The cairn measures 11.6m diameter and takes the form of a platform 0.1m high with a rim 2.5m wide raised to 0.3m high. On the north-east is superimposed eccentrically a second mound 6.1m in diameter and 0.3m high. The latter may well have resulted from interference with the mound. The site is otherwise as described in 1960 (RC Inventory) and 1979 (OS).

Northern cairn II (SO0795003980)

A low circular bank 1.5m wide and 0.2m high, 15m in overall diameter. Set eccentrically (SW) within the otherwise level and stoneless interior lies a mutilated mound 5m in diameter and 0.2m high.

Summit cairn I (SO0791303464)

This grass-covered stony mound lies in a prominent position on top of a ridge on Merthyr Common. It measures 9m (N-S) by 8m and 0.5m high and has an uneven dished surface. When the area was surveyed as part of the Uplands Initiative by Trysor in 2012 vegetation cover was bilberries and grass.

Summit cairn II (SO0788003330)

A turf-covered cairn measuring 4.8m in diameter and 0.5m high is surmounted by a OS trig pillar. This may represent the re-use of a round barrow though the mound may have been created to support the pillar.

Southern cairn (SO0796003010)

A cairn on open land is defined by a slightly raised circular platform and measures 12m in overall diameter. Around it is a perimeter bank 2m wide and 0.3m high which contains three protruding stones. But on its west side it is dominated by outcropping rock and boulders. A possible ring cairn or rimmed platform cairn.

Mynydd y Capel stone (Standing Stone / Menhir)

GGAT description:
Upright slab of sandstone, trapezoidal in shape. Flat faces to SW and NE, leans slightly towards NE. Slab is spalling, but not apparently very badly. Ground worn into shallow hollow on NE side, revealing small blocks and slabs of sandstone; others are visible on the other sides. Dimensions: Lgth base 0.9m, top 0.65m; max ht 0.85m; 0.3m thck.

(1956) A considerable weathered stone slab situated on the top of a hill. It is 0.8m wide, 0.7m high, and 0.3m thick. There is no visible trace of surrounding mound. It looks as though it has been erected, but in this area rock-outcrop is often similar in appearance though usually it has a slight lean in contrast to this stone.

(1976) An upright slab too small for inclusion.
GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Project.

Mynydd y Capel cairns (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery)

CADW scheduling description of the cairnfield:
The monument comprises the remains of several prehistoric round cairns, burial mounds probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC). Located on an elongated plateau at nearly 360m above OD, the number of cairns is exceptional.

Seventy-eight small stony mounds have been identified scattered irregularly over an area about 640m north-south by 230m wide. One mound (Cairn A) is 6.1m in diameter and 0.6m high and appears to have contained a cist and to have been surrounded by a rough kerb. The remainder comprise structureless cairns of stone, mostly very low and inconspicuous; only three are as much as 1m high. The majority (sixty-six) have their larger diameters ranging from 2.8 to 6.7m; of these, fifty-one are round, the rest oval. Ten are larger, four being round measuring from 7.3 to 10.4m in diameter, the remainder being oval, lengths ranging from 8 to 11m. Near the northern limit of the group, a low bank, about 3.7m wide and 0.6m high where best preserved crosses the plateau. Near its eastern end two upright slabs 1.7m apart probably indicate its original width. A branch to the south forms an incomplete enclosure. Near the southern limit are the foundations of two rectangular buildings about 10.7 by 4.6m, now represented by slight low banks about 0.9m wide. The presence of these buildings and of the low bank suggests that some of the cairns may be no more than clearance dumps, but some would be acceptable in isolation as burial cairns, especially that which shows traces of kerbing, and the larger cairn at the south-eastern limit of the group.
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"The fleeting hour of life of those who love the hills is quickly spent, but the hills are eternal. Always there will be the lonely ridge, the dancing beck, the silent forest; always there will be the exhilaration of the summits. These are for the seeking, and those who seek and find while there is still time will be blessed both in mind and body." Alfred Wainwright

"The movers move, the shakers shake, the winners write their history. But from high on the high hills, it all looks like nothing." Justin Sullivan

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