Hillfort, Dinas Dinlle

Record ID:  49800 / MNA165393
Record type:  Monument
Protected Status: Scheduled Monument
NT Property:  Dinas Dinlle; Wales
Civil Parish:  Llandwrog; Gwynedd - Gwynedd
Grid Reference:  SH 4372 5634
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Summary

Large fort built on top of a dominant rounded hill of glacial drift adjacent to the sea.

Identification Images (2)

Dinas Dinlle © National TrustDinas Dinlle © National Trust
Dinas Dinlle © National TrustDinas Dinlle © National Trust

Most Recent Monitoring

None Recorded

Monument Types

  • HILLFORT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Description

Erosion has removed the western side of the fort. The remaining defences consist of two lines of ramparts with a ditch between. The curve of the defences, together with what is known from early maps suggests that the fort was once a continuous enclosure. A simple entrance lies on the south-east side of the fort where cross-banks link the inner and outer ramparts to prevent access between. The eroding faces of the two ramparts show them to have been constructed from drift material, and partly faced with rounded boulders. The interior of the fort is relatively level, with numerous low earthworks and a single large raised mound that has been cut through.

The mound may be a Bronze Age barrow. Some of the other features have been interpreted as round houses, though other levelled areas may relate to the use as a gold course. Roman coins have been found on the site.

Large numbers of features are visible within the eroding section above the beach, from which it is clear the site retains significant archaeological remains which are being destroyed by erosion.

Prior to 2019 the hillfort had never been excavated although chance finds, suggest occupation in the 2nd-3rd centuries AD (coins and pottery) but its construction will have taken place considerably earlier. The fort is similar in construction, in certain respects to other local hillforts such as Dinas Dinorwig, Llan Ddeiniolen and Craig y Dinas, Llanllyfni.

References

  • --- SNA64910 - Report: 2010. Dinas Dinlle Hillfort Llandwrog, Archaeological Watching brief. 49800.

  • --- SNA64911 - Report: Brooks, I P of Engineering Archaeological Services Ltd. 2009. Dinas Dinlle Hillfort Foot Path Watching Brief. 49800.

  • --- SNA65287 - Geophysical Survey Report: Geophysical Survey of Dinas Dinlle Hill Fort, Caernarfon.

  • --- SNA65288 - Measured Survey: Topographical Survey of Dinas Dinlle Hill Fort, Caernarfon.

  • --- SNA65289 - Plan: 2011. Reconstruction Drawing of Dinas Dinlle Hill Fort, Caernarfon.

  • --- SNA68741 - Report: CHERISH. 2019. Dinas Dinlle Coastal Hillfort Interim Report. Assessment of exposed cliff-face features and core transect, 3-7 June 2019.. CH/RCAHMW 01.

  • --- SNA68764 - Geophysical Survey Report: CHERISH/Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. 2018. Geophysical Survey at Dinas Dinlle Hillfort, Llandwrog, Gwynedd.

  • --- SNA69562 - Report: 2022. Dinas Dinlle Camp, Scheduled Monument CN048 Roundhouse Consolidation & Erosion Repair Completion Report.

  • --- SNA69599 - Document: David Hopewell. 2021. AN INTERIM SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF THE EXCAVATIONS AT DINAS DINLLE (2019 and 2021).

  • --- SNA69606 - Report: Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. 2021. Dinas Dinlle Archaeological Evaluation Excavation: Final Report.

  • --- SNA69610 - Document: Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. 2022. Dinas Dinlle Excavation report G2608 7th July - 05th August 2022.

Designations

  • Scheduled Monument: Dinas Dinlle Camp (CN048)

Other Statuses and References

None Recorded

Associated Events

  • ENA6313 - Field Survey, Dinas Dinlle Hillfort, Llandwrog, Archaeological Watching Brief (Ref: GAT Report No.847)
  • ENA6314 - Field Survey, Dinas Dinlle Hillfort Footpath Watching Brief (Ref: EAS Client Report 2009/1)
  • ENA6840 - Field Survey, Watching Brief on Rampart Erosion at Dinas Dinlle Hillfort, Caernarfon
  • ENA6841 - Field Survey, Geophysical Survey of Dinas Dinlle Hill Fort, Caernarfon (Ref: GAT PRN 157 ?)
  • ENA6842 - Field Survey, Topographical Survey of Dinas Dinlle Hill Fort, Caernarfon (Ref: Muckle 2003)
  • ENA6843 - Non Archaeological Intervention, Reconstruction Drawing of Dinas Dinlle Hillfort, Caernarfon (Ref: T Morgan 2011)
  • ENA9768 - Heritage Assessment, Dinas Dinlle Coastal Hillfort. Assessment of exposed cliff-face features and core transect, Interim Report
  • ENA9787 - Remote Sensing, Geophysical Survey at Dinas Dinlle Hillfort, Llandwrog, Gwynedd
  • ENA10574 - Archaeological Intervention, EXCAVATIONS AT DINAS DINLLE (2019 and 2021)
  • ENA10575 - Archaeological Intervention, Excavation at Dinas Dinlle from 7th July - 05th August 2022

Associated Finds

None Recorded

Related Records

None Recorded