United Kingdom

Pen y Gaer

Bronze and Iron Age hillfort in Conwy valley, Wales

Location

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Historical Context

About

Pen y Gaer (or Pen-y-gaer) is the location of a Bronze Age and Iron Age hillfort near the village of Llanbedr-y-Cennin in the Conwy valley, Wales. A natural defensive site, it had a long history of occupation, indicated by the complexity of the defences, which were amended over time. There are two Bronze Age cairns on the north-west slope, and extensive prehistoric and later field systems are nearby. The remains as seen today are mostly of Iron Age origin, but further earthworks, probably of medieval origin, lie on the south-eastern slopes. The remains of the two walls of stone can be seen, as can those of a chevaux-de-frise. The entrance is to the west, and access can be gained from a car park, reached by the road from the village.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Defensive Structures

Defensive WallsBarricades (Chevaux-de-frise)
category

Burial and Funerary Structures

Burial Mounds (Bronze Age cairns)
category

Agricultural and Land Use Features

Field Systems
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Landscaped EarthworksArtificial Mounds
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

United Kingdom

Coordinates

53.21° N, -3.87° E