Moel Arthur
{{Short description|Iron age hillfort in Flintshire, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Moel Arthur
|native_name =
|alternate_name =
|image = Moel Arthur, Sir Ddinbych 04.JPG
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption = Viewed from the south-east
|map_type = Wales Flintshire
|map_alt =
|map_size = 180px
|location = Near Denbigh, Wales
|region =
|coordinates = {{coord|53|11|4|N|3|16|50|W|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:GB}}
|gbgridref = SJ 14529 66034
|type = Hillfort
|part_of =
|length = {{convert|160|m|ft}}
|width = {{convert|140|m|ft}}
|area = {{convert|1.8|ha}}
|height = {{convert|455.8|m|ft}}
|epochs = Iron Age
}}
Moel Arthur ("Arthur's Hill") is an Iron Age hillfort in Flintshire, Wales, at the boundary with Denbighshire, about {{convert|5|mi|km}} east of Denbigh.
It is on a prominent hill, height {{convert|455.8|m|ft}},[https://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=5155 "Moel Arthur"] Hill Bagging. Retrieved 22 August 2019. in the Clwydian Range; it overlooks the Vale of Clwyd to the west. Offa's Dyke Path skirts the hill. It is about {{convert|1|mi|km}} south-east of the hillfort of Penycloddiau.
Description
The oval fort is about {{convert|160|m|ft}} north–south and {{convert|140|m|ft}} east–west, enclosing an area of {{convert|1.8|ha}}. There are two large banks and ditches to the north, where the hill slope is not steep; above the steep south-west, south and east slopes there is a single bank. At the north-east, at the edge of the steeper slopes, there is a narrow inturned entrance with an oblique approach. The form of entrance, and the simple plan of the fort, suggest that it is an early example.Christopher Houlder. Wales: An Archaeological Guide. Faber and Faber, 1978. Page 74.{{Coflein|num=306899|desc=Moel Arthur, hillfort|access-date=22 August 2019}}[https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/moel-arthur/ "Moel Arthur"] Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
Within the fortifications, there is a rounded summit. In the north and east of the interior there is a broad terrace, and building platforms have been found.
There was excavation in 1849 by Wynne Ffoulkes. He found "coarse red Roman pottery" which has not been preserved; it is not known if it was Roman, which would suggest occupation into the Roman period, or prehistoric. He found traces of a drystone construction, destroyed during the excavation, near the south of the entrance. In 1962, three copper Bronze Age axes were found within the defences.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Moel Arthur}}
Category:Hillforts in Flintshire
Category:Hillforts in Denbighshire