View source for Hen Gaer

{{Short description|Hillfort in Ceredigion, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Hen Gaer
|native_name =
|alternate_name =
|image = Ancient and Modern - geograph.org.uk - 1337165.jpg
|image_size = 240px
|alt =
|caption = Looking north-east across Hen Gaer
|map_type = Wales Ceredigion
|map_alt =
|map_size = 200px
|altitude_m =
|location = Near [[Bow Street, Ceredigion]], Wales
|region =
|coordinates = {{coord|52.4403|N|4.0127|W|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:GB}}
|gbgridref = SN 633 844
|type = [[Hillfort]]
|part_of =
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|abandoned =
|epochs = [[British Iron Age|Iron Age]]
|cultures =
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'''Hen Gaer''' is an [[British Iron Age|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'''.<ref name=coflein>{{Coflein|num=92249|desc=Hen Gaer|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>
==Description==
Hen Gaer ("Old Castle") is smaller than a typical tribal fortification. It is strongly defended; the single rampart is about {{convert|12|m}} wide and {{convert|3|–|4|m|0}} 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.<ref name=coflein/><ref name=houlder>Christopher Houlder. ''Wales: An Archaeological Guide''. Faber and Faber, 1978. Page 114.</ref>
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]].<ref name=coflein/>
==See also==
* [[Hillforts in Britain]]
* [[List of Scheduled prehistoric Monuments in Ceredigion]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Hillforts in Ceredigion]]
[[Category:Scheduled monuments in Wales]]