DisgrifiadRCAHMW aerial reconnaissance on 18th October 2002 discovered a previously unrecorded small hillfort, crowning a prominent east-west ridge overlooking the Afon Bran, 3 km east of Llangadog village. The remains of this plough-denuded fort, c. 170m x 50m, were identified in good, low light, but its visibility was further enhanced by parching of the hilltop resulting from the dry spell of weather during late summer. The hillfort is best preserved at the east end where the remnants of an angled rock-cut ditch are visible enclosing the east and south sides of the ridge. The highest point of the fort is a knoll at the west end, rising to 170m O.D. Traces of a slight scarp, possibly the footings for a palisade, can be seen defining the north side of the hillfort where the slope is steepest. Several depressions within the hillfort, noted on aerial photographs, may represent house platforms. Briggs (AW 26 (1986), 33) records a quernstone of quartzitic sandstone, found near Glansevin Mill at SN 737285, at the foot of the northern slope below this hillfort.
T Driver. From Archaeology in Wales 42 (2002), pp.96-7.
Mandinam hillfort (52102)
This hillfort was discovered through aerial photography by Toby Driver, RCAHMW, in October 2002. It is located on a ridge summit running east to west at approximately 160m. The ridge peaks towards the west-central section of the fort and falls away to the east and west in a series of natural steps before falling away more consistently and steeply to the east and less steeply to the west. Most of the ridge steps are incorporated within the fort. On the flanks to the north and south the land falls away very steeply. The land is under pasture; this has been designated a SSSI on account of its ecological value. A small, disused quarry lies on the northwest end of the ridge.
The most prominent remain of the fort consists of a right angle rock cut ditch with an internal bank running across the eastern side of the ridge. The ditch survives up to c. 4m wide and 0.5m deep, and the bank is up to 0.5m high and up to 3m wide. This bank and ditch fades very quickly as it runs into the steep flanking slopes. It is however present as a slight earthwork terrace running around the southwestern end of the ridge. Here a later hedge-bank partially overlies and obscures the defences. This defensive circuit effectively encloses a rectangular area 150m east to west and 50m north to south. Within the defences on the natural steps to the east of, and 5m -10m below, the highest point, and so protected from the prevailing winds, are four or five amorphous platforms or hollows. These could be house platforms, or shallow quarries. Owing to the steep slopes the fort's entrance must be located on the western end of the ridge, although there is no physical evidence for it. The owner, Mr Lampart, states that this is the best route for a tractor to reach the ridge top. To the west of the main fort one of the natural ridge steps, 30m x 30m, forms what could be an annexe to the fort, although defences to this area seem to consist of scarping of the existing steep slopes. Approximately 75m to the east of the right angle ditch and bank a rocky outcrop may have been artificially steepened to provide an outer line of defence.
Text by Ken Murphy, ACA, 4 May 2005. Included in core record with permission.
Added by T Driver.
