1. An enclosure, about 228m by 128m, occupies the south-west end of a ridge; it is defined to the north and west by banks and ditches, and to the SE by enhanced scarps above a steep descent: five pillow mounds (Nprn24598) occupy the interior. (source OS495 card; SO15NW3).

RCAHMW, 22.08.2002

2. Field visit January 2025 and revised description

Summary

The hillfort at Graig occupies the leading southern knoll of a prominent ridge rising to 353m O.D. in the hill country north of Frank’s Bridge. The hillfort looks out across the marshy lowlands of the Edw valley on the south and south-east sides, while its gateway notably overlooks and commands a gap or pass through the rocky ridge on its north side. In recent centuries a rabbit warren comprising several pillow mounds was constructed within and around the hillfort earthworks. In 2018, Julian Ravest correctly identified traces of intense burning or vitrification of both the north and south gateways, apparently the first example at a Welsh hillfort.

Site description

The hillfort is broadly rectangular and encloses a natural south-west/north-east depression or col between a higher ridge of outcropping rock to the north and a precipitous hillslope along the south. The fort measures some 270m long by 145m, and enclosures 3.34 hectares externally (including outworks) and 2.51 hectares internally.

The hillfort is generally univallate and is enclosed by a high 3-5m high rampart on the north and north-east sides. On the west side, the rampart crossing the col has been almost entirely ploughed out by past agricultural improvement, while a minor rampart or scarp bank defines the south-east side of the hillfort against the steeper slopes.

The northern rampart has a 1m high rear face, but a 4m high external face with a partly infilled outer ditch and counterscarp beyond. The rampart on the north and north-east sides still presents a very steep face – in places nearly vertical – suggesting the presence of a buried stone revetment wall and originally very strong internal structuring.

The defences are at their most impressive and complex on the north-east side fronting the main gateway. The causewayed approach path curves in from the west side – from the rocky pass – and up and into the hillfort. On the east side the approach is flanked by two lower outer ramparts, heightening the appearance of the main gateway.

The main inner rampart on the west side rises to a 3m high west terminal mound above the gate, and was built on the summit of a rocky knoll elevating it to several metres above the heads of people approaching the gate. In this sense it could be considered a ‘command post’ structure or potential slinging platform.

Evidence for virtrification or intense burning

Vitrified rocks or boulders can be seen protruding through the west gateway terminal of the northern rampart, and in sheep scrapes and erosion features at the south-western rampart of the hillfort – perhaps close to a second gateway, now lost. The natural mudstone bedrock, which has a white or yellow appearance around the site, has been significantly fire-reddened in these two places. In amongst the reddened stone can be seen blocks of lighter, vitrified ‘clinker’. These extraordinary rocks have already been thoroughly assessed by Mark Walters of the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust following a field visit in 2018.

His full assessment is available at PRN 327 & PRN 143656 (Heneb: Clwyd Powys):

'The vitrified material has appeared due to sheep scrapes and subsequent erosion of the upper rampart material. The best example is located on the crest of the rampart forming the west side of the northern entrance at 313223,258494, (PRN 143656). Here an in-situ section of vitrified material survives at the crest of the bank with eroded material visible in the scree below. The vitrified material is aprox 20 cm deep and 30 cm wide, but may be more extensive than the small area visible. The material consists of fused and melted mudstone with heat reddened mudstone fragments also visible in the sheep scrape sections and on the slope. The completely melted material is vesicular and contains iron and silicates melted from the stone and surrounding soil matrix. Temperatures have clearly reached 850 - 1100 degrees C to melt the stone. The southern area of vitrification is located just below the crest at the southern extent of the north west facing rampart at 313028,258392, (PRN 143657). In-situ fused and melted mudstones are buried in the scree from sheep scrapes above and there is heat reddened stone again in the sheep scrape sections and on the scree. Isolated detached pieces of vitrified material also lie in the scree. The extent to which the rest of the western and northern rampart is vitrified is unknown due to grass cover. It is noticeable that where the vitrification is visible the crest of the rampart has a sharp profile and this may be indicative of the hardening of the upper rampart by vitrification, which then prevents normal weathering and erosion, perhaps resulting in a characteristic sharp profile…'

Dr Toby Driver RCAHMW. Visited with Julian Ravest 29th January 2025

Site Record

Graig Fawr Hillfort or Graig Fawr Camp