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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Bryn Maen Caerau

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Bryn Cynon Enclosure, Cellan

In the community of Llanfair Clydogau.
In the historic county of Cardiganshire.
Modern authority of Ceredigion.
Preserved county of Dyfed.

OS Map Grid Reference: SN59704836
Latitude 52.11555° Longitude -4.05045°

Bryn Maen Caerau has been described as a Timber Castle but is rejected as such.

There are earthwork remains.

Description

Rejected by Davis as natural mound. Recorded in CARN as Iron Age defended enclosure and was an artificial banked, reveted and ditched enclosure.

The site occupies slightly rising ground on the edge of a natural terrace above the flood plain of the river. It is overlooked by higher ground on the SE.
The enclosure is defined on the SE by a bank + ditch, with some trace of a counterscarpe bank on the east. The bank is traceable over the NW half as scarping of the natural terrace. This NW area is now faced by a modern wall, while th SE bank is largely occupied by a hedge. the NE + SW part of the enclosure, adjacent to the road, is slighted by modern buildings.
The 'Matte" is a low knoll at the highest part of the natural rise, and is undoubtedly natural.
On balance the site seems to be most closely related to the class of hillslope enclosure, presumably of Iron Age date. (GH William 1977). (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)
Comments

It is unclear if "Matte" is a local name or a typo' for 'motte' if the later then it is clear the reason for Davis mentioning the site.
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
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This record last updated before 1 February 2016


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