People and Places

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People and Places

Of the 580 hill-forts in Wales, 230 are of I acre or less and 3/4 Lie in the south west, a high % are of iron age date- with 150 (33% ) of forts in north Wales.

The settlement patterns of north Wales do not appear to have been affected by the events of the late pre Roman/Iron age in the south east of Wales. Many sites continue into the Roman period without significant changes, although little material is available to support this view.

Structural alterations to defences were sometimes required dues to the threat of Roman activity in the area during the campaigns of 50 & 51 AD trio possible alterations to the southern ramparts of Dinorben in Denbigh during period V may record this.

Hill Forts like Trer Ceiri continue with densely occupied interiors, with a large no of Enclosed Farmsteads of around 5 acres of terraced fields indicating that the social groupings are probably 1st cent or earlier.

Castell Odo on the peninsula appears to have been slighted during the Roman period around the last of the lst cent. This could tie in with the construction and occupation of Pen Lystyn about 63 AD.

Llyn du bach A second type of Homestead known as concentric circle site, had huts of 2' diameter stone huts in concentric circles and provided corral space and domestic space respectively Undated upon excavation

Large Hill-top settlements defended by stone walls developed as at Trer Ceiri - Garn Boudan and Conway mountain , indicate that there may have been late communities of 100/400 people and contained 20 - 80 circular stoned walled huts in each settlement. Although generally enclosed by a dry stone wall/rampart at Garn Fadryn a large part of the settlement lay on the surrounding slope. At Dinorben timber huts appear to pre-date the fort construction (now known to be the normal pattern of occupation).

Gazeteer of Hill Forts

People & Places