Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Moel Goedog Camp
Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales
A scheduled monument in Harlech, Gwynedd, recorded as Hillfort (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Hillfort
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Community
- Harlech
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.87215, -4.06127
- SAM number
- ME059
- Cadw record number
- 3213
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 135 Harlech (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument comprises the remains of a hillfort, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). Hillforts are usually located on hilltops and surrounded by a single or multiple earthworks of massive proportions. Hillforts must have formed symbols of power within the landscape, while their function may have had as much to do with ostentation and display as defence. The hillfort is located on a round grassy hill which rises to 369 m, it falls away on all sides but the E, where the ground forms a saddle before rising again to 378 m. The defences consist of two banks which encircle the hilltop, with traces of an external ditch accompanying each bank. The inner ditch is not very convincing, but the outer ditch is visible on the E side. The inner bank rises less than 0.5 m above the interior of the fort, and is about 3 m wide. The interior of the fort is nearly circular in plan, and reaches a maximum diameter of just over 100 m. There are no early features visible inside the fort, but there are the remains of two sheepfolds, one on the north east and one on the south east.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation and settlement. The site forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Settlement 400m SE of Moel GoedogEnclosed hut circleunder 1 mi
- Moel Goedog Round Cairns & Standing StonesRing Cairnunder 1 mi
- Tyddyn Sion Wyn Ring CairnRing Cairnunder 1 mi
- Settlement 500m SE of Moel GoedogHut Circle Settlementunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.