Trawscoed fort
Encyclopedia
Trawscoed fort is an iron-age
auxiliary hill fort in Ceredigion
, Wales
, located near the modern town of Trawsgoed
that was first built in the 70s AD. It overlooks the Roman bridge over the river Ystwyth
, which is where the road from Pen-Ilwyn to Llanio crosses. In 1959, this site was initially identified via aerial photography revealing a series of patchmarks covering an area of around 2 hectares (20,000 m²). Later explorations increased the knowledge of this site.
yard lay just to the east of this building. A clay oven was found in 1984 inside this building; however, this clay oven may not be contemporary with the building, and its location might just be a coincidence. This oven was sealed with clay after a fire was built during the Flavian dynasty
. Further wall trenches were dug through the remains of this building, and they indicate the presence of a later building 8.5m long and 6.75m wide with a passageway on the eastern side. Two drains aligned on the northwest-southeast axis cut through this building. The occupation of this site occurred during 70 to 120 AD, with a period of abandonment around 100 AD.
s and greyscale maps of the region. The waterfall plots were made by plotting each traversal of a plot on a trace, which enabled anomalies to be easily seen.
s and burning wooden structures, also increased the amount of magnetic response.
Hopewell also scanned some of the area around the fort, and he wrote that there was a road leading to the northeast gate. He recorded finding small anomalies on either side of the gate, which may indicate the presence of what was once a guard tower. Large areas of indications of burning imply that there may have been buildings that had burned down. The rest of the area to the northeast contains faint parallel striations in the magnetic map, which may indicate ploughing, followed by spots which may have been campfire
s. Jeffrey Davies' excavation trench, which he dug in 1974, caused a large line of static.
bushes. This plant has invasive roots, and scientists were worried that it might be damaging the remains of Trawscoed Fort. A group from FC Wales removed the gorse, and foresters laid down hay from the nearby Penrhyncoch meadow. The seeds contained in the hay will fall down and germinate, thus replacing the gorse with a layer of grass. This will have the added benefit of attracting birds and butterflies to the site.
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
auxiliary hill fort in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, located near the modern town of Trawsgoed
Trawsgoed
Trawsgoed Estate located eight miles east of Aberystwyth in Ceredigion, Wales has been in the possession of the Vaughan family since the year 1200...
that was first built in the 70s AD. It overlooks the Roman bridge over the river Ystwyth
Ystwyth
Ystwyth may refer to:* River Ystwyth, a river in West Wales, which drains into Cardigan Bay at Aberystwyth* Cwm Ystwyth Lead Mine, a disused lead mine in the valley of the River Ystwyth* Baron Ystwyth, an extinct title in the peerage of the United Kingdom...
, which is where the road from Pen-Ilwyn to Llanio crosses. In 1959, this site was initially identified via aerial photography revealing a series of patchmarks covering an area of around 2 hectares (20,000 m²). Later explorations increased the knowledge of this site.
Description
This 2.3 hectares (23,000 m²) fort is 63 metres (206.7 ft) above sea level. It was surrounded by a ditch 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide and 0.9 metres (3 ft) deep. Inside this ditch was a clay and turf rampart which was 4.1 metres (13.5 ft) wide, and it had a clay and turf revetment. The rampart had a gate in each side, and its corners were rounded. Inside the fort, there were rows of barracks for up to 800 infantry. The commander's house, granaries, and headquarters were situated alongside the central range. There were also settlements and other ancillary features outside the walls and ditch. There is evidence that the whole settlement was built and rebuilt at least three times in all.Initial exploration
Exploration of the northeastern portion of the fort revealed evidence of a large timber building. This evidence was the trench left by the remains of a wall running along the northwest-southeast axis. There were also two metal-clad post holes. Another building aligned in the same direction was beside the via decumana, evidenced by two wall trenches 7.8m apart and 6.8m long. A cobbledCobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
yard lay just to the east of this building. A clay oven was found in 1984 inside this building; however, this clay oven may not be contemporary with the building, and its location might just be a coincidence. This oven was sealed with clay after a fire was built during the Flavian dynasty
Flavian dynasty
The Flavian dynasty was a Roman Imperial Dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96 AD, encompassing the reigns of Vespasian , and his two sons Titus and Domitian . The Flavians rose to power during the civil war of 69, known as the Year of the Four Emperors...
. Further wall trenches were dug through the remains of this building, and they indicate the presence of a later building 8.5m long and 6.75m wide with a passageway on the eastern side. Two drains aligned on the northwest-southeast axis cut through this building. The occupation of this site occurred during 70 to 120 AD, with a period of abandonment around 100 AD.
Recent exploration
In November 2005, Trawscoed fort was explored using fluxgate gradiometer surveys by David Hopewell. The researchers surveyed a rectangle of 120 metres (393.7 ft) by 160 metres (524.9 ft), including the northern quadrant of the fort and the areas east and north of the fort. They collected the data by dividing this rectangle up into 20 metres (65.6 ft) by 20 metres (65.6 ft) square plots. They then surveyed each plot by walking along the length of the plot, taking readings every 0.5 metres (1.6 ft). Each scanned strip was 1 metres (3.3 ft) apart, giving a total of 800 readings per plot. The researchers then took this data and used Geoplot 3.0 software to generate X-Y waterfall plotWaterfall plot
A Waterfall plot is a three-dimensional plot which shows grid lines for only one of the axes. The result is a series of "mountain" shapes that appear to be side by side, resembling a waterfall. The waterfall plot is often used to show how two-dimensional information changes over time or some...
s and greyscale maps of the region. The waterfall plots were made by plotting each traversal of a plot on a trace, which enabled anomalies to be easily seen.
Interpretation of the results
High readings in the magnetic map were caused by pieces of iron and fences. Any locations where fire was, such as kilnKiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
s and burning wooden structures, also increased the amount of magnetic response.
The results
David Hopewell reports that "The northern corner of the fort shows up clearly on the grey-scale plot", and sections of the ramparts showed evidence of burning. He found a ditch which circumscribed the fort just outside the walls. Just outside the ditch is a 10 metres (32.8 ft) wide swathe of ground containing very little magnetic response. To the northeast of this area he found a large, strong magnetic response which indicates that a bank once existed in this area. In the northern and eastern quadrants of the fort were blocks of six barracks each.Hopewell also scanned some of the area around the fort, and he wrote that there was a road leading to the northeast gate. He recorded finding small anomalies on either side of the gate, which may indicate the presence of what was once a guard tower. Large areas of indications of burning imply that there may have been buildings that had burned down. The rest of the area to the northeast contains faint parallel striations in the magnetic map, which may indicate ploughing, followed by spots which may have been campfire
Campfire
A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, to serve the following functions: light, warmth, a beacon, a bug and/or apex predator deterrent, to cook, and for a psychological sense of security. In established campgrounds they are usually in a fire ring for safety. Campfires are a popular feature of...
s. Jeffrey Davies' excavation trench, which he dug in 1974, caused a large line of static.
Protecting the site
Until very recently, the fort was covered with gorseGorse
Gorse, furze, furse or whin is a genus of about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green...
bushes. This plant has invasive roots, and scientists were worried that it might be damaging the remains of Trawscoed Fort. A group from FC Wales removed the gorse, and foresters laid down hay from the nearby Penrhyncoch meadow. The seeds contained in the hay will fall down and germinate, thus replacing the gorse with a layer of grass. This will have the added benefit of attracting birds and butterflies to the site.
Further reading
- BBCS xxxi (1984). pp. 259–292
- Britannia xvi (1985), p. 255
- Britannia xvii (1986), p. 366