View source for Y Gaer

{{for|the cultural hub|Y Gaer (cultural hub)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox castle
|name = Y Gaer (''Cicucium'')
|image = File:Y Gaer Brecon - South Wall - 02.JPG
|caption = Remains of the Roman fort
|location = [[Powys]], [[Wales]], UK
|pushpin_map = Wales Powys
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Powys]]
|gridref = {{gbmappingsmall|SO00332966}}
|coordinates = {{Coord|51.9565|-3.4517|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Y Gaer''' ({{Langx|la|Cicucium}}) is a [[Roman fort]] situated near modern-day [[Brecon]] in [[Mid Wales]], [[United Kingdom]].
Y Gaer is located at {{gbmapping|SO00332966}} (Landranger 160).
== History ==
Y Gaer was built around AD 75 and sits on a crossroads of [[Roman road]]s in the valley of the [[River Usk]] at a strategic point in [[Wales in the Roman Era|Roman Wales]], linking [[South Wales]] and Mid Wales. It was part of a chain of similar forts, such as [[Gobannium]] at [[Abergavenny]], a day's march away down the Usk valley, and larger bases, such as [[Moridunum (Carmarthen)|Moridunum]] ([[Carmarthen]]) via [[Alabum]] ([[Llandovery]]), [[Cardiff Roman Fort]] to the south and [[Isca Augusta]], [[Caerleon]], the main base for the [[Roman legion]] locally.<ref>{{cite web|title=A short guide to Brecon Gaer Roman Fort| url=http://www.cpat.org.uk/educate/guides/brecgaer/brecgaer.htm|publisher=Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust|access-date= 2 February 2013}}</ref>
The site was excavated in the 1920s by Sir [[Mortimer Wheeler]], a prominent [[archaeologist]] of his day.
The fort was built for a contingent of up to 500 cavalrymen, recruited originally in Spain from the [[Vettones]], and these Vettonian cavalry would have played a significant part in the conquest of the area held by the [[Silures]].
Their early stables were wooden and their accommodation basic, protected by clay banks topped with a wooden palisade. This was rebuilt in the 2nd century AD by the [[Legio II Augusta]] and also shows signs of being repaired again in the 4th century.
== Y Gaer today ==
The site is in the care of [[Cadw]]. It lies on private farmland and Cadw provides no signposting to the site, which lies on the further side of the farm buildings at the end of the approach lane.
Visitors can see remnants of stone walls standing in parts to some {{convert|3|m}} in height, part of three gatehouses and corner guard towers. Several artifacts have been removed to local museums, such as a tombstone of a young cavalryman called Candidus, held at the [[Y Gaer (cultural hub)|Y Gaer cultural hub]] in Brecon.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Maiden stone from Brecon Gaer (Roman fort), 1809 |url=http://www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk/Item/11078-the-maiden-stone-from-brecon-gaer-roman-fort |work=Gathering the Jewels |publisher=peoplescollectionwales.co.uk |access-date=2 February 2013}}</ref>
{{gallery|mode=packed
|Y Gaer Brecon - North Wall.JPG|Remains of the North wall
|Y Gaer Brecon HenSne 16 corner turret.JPG|Foundations of the North East corner turret
|Y Gaer Brecon HenSne 04 east gate.JPG|Foundations of the East gate
|Y Gaer Brecon HenSne 06 south gate.JPG|Foundations of the South gate
|Y Gaer Brecon HenSne 09.JPG|The site, looking NE from the former location of the SW corner turret
|Y Gaer Brecon HenSne 10 west gate.JPG|Foundations of the West gate
}}
==See also==
*[[List of Cadw properties]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons category|Y Gaer Brecon Roman Fort}}
*[http://www.cpat.org.uk/educate/guides/brecgaer/brecgaer.htm Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust information on Y Gaer]
*[http://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/brecon-roman-fort/ Roman Britain: Y Gaer, Brecon (Cicucium)]
[[Category:Roman fortifications in Powys]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Powys]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Powys]]
[[Category:Ruins in Wales]]
[[Category:Cadw]]
[[Category:Roman legionary fortresses in Wales]]