Hen Gaer Explained

Hen Gaer
Map Type:Wales Ceredigion
Map Size:200px
Location:Near Bow Street, Ceredigion, Wales
Coordinates:52.4403°N -4.0127°W
Gbgridref:SN 633 844

Hen Gaer is an Iron Age hillfort, on a hill adjacent to and east of Bow Street, Ceredigion, Wales.

Other names of the hillfort are Broncastellan and Caer Shon.

Description

Hen Gaer ("Old Castle") is smaller than a typical tribal fortification. It is strongly defended; the single rampart is about wide and 3m–4mm (10feet–13feetm) above the interior, with a rock-cut external ditch. On the north-east side, carefully laid stone blocks of the original rampart wall can be seen. The main entrance is on the west side. There is a circular mound outside the entrance: it is not an earlier barrow, but may be a defensive feature.[1]

The enclosed area includes some of the southern hillslope; it is thought this may have been to make the fortification visible from the narrow valley below, at the confluence of Afon Stewi and Nant Seilo forming Afon Clarach.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Christopher Houlder. Wales: An Archaeological Guide. Faber and Faber, 1978. Page 114.