Llwynda-Ddu Camp facts for kids

Llwynda-Ddu Camp, also known as Llwynda-Ddu Hillfort, is an ancient fort from the Iron Age (a time long ago when people used iron tools). You can find it in Pentyrch, Cardiff, in South Wales. This special place is a scheduled monument, which means it's a very important historical site protected by law. It's known as a defensive hillfort, built on a hill to protect people.

What is Llwynda-Ddu Camp?

Llwynda-Ddu Camp is an earthwork, which means it's a structure made from earth. It was built by people living in the Iron Age, thousands of years ago. These hillforts were like fortified villages or strongholds where communities could live and defend themselves from enemies.

Where is the Camp Located?

The camp is shaped like an egg and sits on the western side of a small hill. It's about 120 meters (394 feet) above sea level. The ground around it drops steeply on most sides, making it a naturally strong place for defense. The main way to get into the camp was through an entrance at its smaller, southwestern end.

How Was the Camp Built?

The Llwynda-Ddu Camp likely had two large banks of earth, called ramparts, with ditches dug in front of them. These ramparts and ditches acted like walls and moats to keep attackers out. However, much of the outer bank has been damaged over time.

The entrance to the camp was a straight path, called a causeway, that cut through both the inner and outer banks. The inner bank was about 2.5 meters (8 feet) higher than the bottom of the ditch, making it a tough barrier to cross. The inside area of the camp measured about 85 meters (279 feet) long and 60 meters (197 feet) wide. This gave the people living there about 0.4 hectares (1 acre) of space.

Who Lived at Llwynda-Ddu Camp?

Historians believe that the camp might have belonged to the Silures. The Silures were a powerful ancient tribe who lived in what is now South Wales during the Iron Age and Roman times. They were known for being fierce warriors who resisted the Roman invasion for many years.

Over the centuries, the land around the camp has been used for farming. Today, there's even a modern house built nearby, showing how the landscape has changed since the Iron Age.