Hillforts Map

Home / Wales / Carmarthenshire / Merlin's Hill

Merlin's Hill

Carmarthenshire, Wales · Atlas WA2188

Merlin's Hill is a contour fort in Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Other names on the record: Merlin's Grove.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial univallate and partial bivallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank, and an enclosed area of 4 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a hilltop and at 150 m.

The aspect is recorded as level.

Recorded land use includes pasture and heath.

Dating evidence is recorded for 400 BC–AD 50 (C14 and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology). Reliability is recorded as B - Medium.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (CM231(CAM)).

Location

Atlas number
WA2188 (2188)
Country
Wales
Current county or unitary authority
Carmarthenshire
Historic county
Carmarthenshire
Parish, community, or townland
Abergwili
National Grid reference
SN45502150
Latitude
51.87058
Longitude
-4.24560
Altitude
150 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial univallate and partial bivallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
2
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 2, SE 1, SW 1, NW 2
Number of ditches
2
Possible original entrances
2
Breaks through the ramparts
2
Enclosed area
4 ha
Enclosure areas
1 ha, 4 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank
Enclosing works, excavated
earthen bank and stone wall
Also recorded
multi-period enclosure system and ditches
Entrance forms
Barbican (North east); In-turned (North east); Simple Gap (South west)

Landscape

Topographic position
hilltop
Aspect
level
Land use
pasture and heath

Dating

Dating
400 BC–AD 50
Dating evidence
C14 and Morphology/Earthwork/Typology
Dating reliability
B - Medium

Interior and investigation

Investigations
Other (1971); Other (2002); Excavation (1980-1989); Other (1983-1994); Other (2007-2008)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
CM231(CAM)
HER
Dyfed 1745
National record
record SN 42 SE 2; monument 92889
Wikidata
Q31110285

Sources

References

  1. Darke, I., Isaac, J., Parry, C. and Williams, G. 1988. Recent work on Merlin's Hill, Abergwili, Carmarthen Ant, 24, 5-13.
  2. Grealey, S. 1971. The hill fortress on Merlin's Hill, Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, Carmarthen Ant, 7, 98-101.
  3. Murphy, F., Ramsey, R., Page, M. and Murphy, K. 2008. A SURVEY OF DEFENDED ENCLOSURES IN CARMARTHENSHIRE, 2007-08: GAZETTEER OF ORDNANCE SURVEY GRID SQUARES SN40, SN41, SN42, SN43 and SN44, DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST REPORT NO. 2007/27, PROJECT RECORD NO. 62767, Llandeilo: Dyfed Archaeological Trust.
  4. Savory, H.N. 1954. List of hill-forts and other earthworks in Carmarthenshire. Bull Board Celtic Stud, 16, 56.