The potential site of a Late Iron Age and Roman-period anchorage or estuarine inlet AD 100-200.

Peat coring, palaeoenvironmental analysis and landscape reconstruction based on LiDAR and topographic modelling for the EU-Funded CHERISH Project (2017-2023), carried out by the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University, identified the low-lying area some 150m to the east of Dinas Dinlle hillfort (NPRN 95309) as having been an estuarine inlet in the early Roman period. Given the date range of settlement in the nearby hillfort established during excavations in 2019 and 2021-22 it is likely, although not yet tested through excavation, that this low-lying area to the east of the fort could have been utilised as an anchorage or harbour in the Late Iron Age - Roman period. As such, fragile archaeological deposits may be preserved below the fields in this low-lying location.

Toby Driver, Royal Commission, October 2024

References:

Barker, L., 2020, Dinas Dinlle, Hillfort, Llandwrog, Gwynedd. An overview of CHERISH Project Investigations 2019, Archaeology in Wales 60, 29-36.
Barker, L. and Corns, A. (Eds.), 2023, CHERISH: Sharing Our Practice. Investigating Heritage and Climate Change in Coastal and Maritime Environments. A Guide to the CHERISH Toolkit. (CHERISH/RCAHMW: Aberystwyth). https://cherishproject.eu/en/end-of-project-conference-ambition-delivery-and-legacy/
Barker, L., Driver T., Hunt, D., Robson, P., 2021, Llandwrog, Dinas Dinlle Hillfort, Archaeology in Wales 59, 122.
Barker, L., Hunt, D., Robson, P., Roberts, H., 2023 Dinas Dinlle Coastal Hillfort: Final Report. Assessment of exposed cliff-face features and core transect, 3-7 June 2019. (CHERISH Report No: CH/RCAHMW 38).
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Brooks, I., and Smith, D., 2009, Dinas Dinlle Hillfort Footpath Watching Brief. (Engineering Archaeological Services Ltd, Unpublished Report)
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Hopewell, D. 2021. An interim summary of the results of the excavations at Dinas Dinlle (2019 and 2021). Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.
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Parry, I, Parry, L, Evans, R, Hopewell, D, Davidson, A, Williams, T, and Berks, T, 2012, Arfordir Coastal Heritage: Final Report (GAT Report No. 1044)
Ranwell, D.S. 1958. Movement of vegetated sand dunes at Newborough Warren, Anglesey. Journal of Ecology, 46, 83-100
RCAHMW, 1960, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Caernarvonshire. Volume II: Central (Monument Number 1211, 190).
Riley, H. & Smith, G. 1993. Coastal Erosion Survey: Aberdaron Bay to the Great Orme. GAT Report No. 79 published in Archaeology in Wales 52, 168-9
Smith, G., 2005, A Survey of Prehistoric Defended Enclosures in North West Wales 2004-2005: West Conwy, Gwynedd (Arfon) & Anglesey, (GAT Report No. 580)
Smith, G., 2008, Iron Age Settlements in Wales: Cadw Defended Enclosures Publication Hillforts and Hut Groups in North-West Wales (GAT Report No. 721)
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Site Record

Dinas Dinlle, Roman-period harbour (possible site of)