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Caer y Twr (meaning 'fort of the pile/heap') is an 
The hillfort, which is situated among rocky outcrops, is ideally placed for defence and likely served as a watchtower and possibly as a signal tower. Some have speculated that it was built to alert a small fort in the modern town of
Caer y Twr
, BBC
Caer y Twr
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
Roman Remains on Anglesey
, BBC {{DEFAULTSORT:Caer Y Twr Trearddur Scheduled monuments in Anglesey Roman fortifications in Anglesey Hillforts in Anglesey Roman legionary fortresses in Wales
Iron Age
The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...
hillfort
A hillfort is a type of fortification, fortified refuge or defended settlement located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typical of the late Bronze Age Europe, European Bronze Age and Iron Age Europe, Iron Age. So ...
atop the summit of the Holyhead Mountain
Holyhead Mountain ( Welsh ''Mynydd Twr,'' from ''mynydd'' 'mountain, unenclosed land' and ''twr'' 'a heap, pile') is the highest point on Holy Island, Anglesey, and in the county of Anglesey, north Wales. It lies about two miles west of the town ...
in Anglesey
Anglesey ( ; ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the Principal areas of Wales, county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island () and some islets and Skerry, sker ...
, Wales.
The hillfort, which is situated among rocky outcrops, is ideally placed for defence and likely served as a watchtower and possibly as a signal tower. Some have speculated that it was built to alert a small fort in the modern town of Holyhead
Holyhead (; , "Cybi's fort") is a historic port town, and is the list of Anglesey towns by population, largest town and a Community (Wales), community in the county of Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Holyhead is on Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island ...
in the case of raiders coming in from the Irish Sea
The Irish Sea is a body of water that separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is linked to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel and to the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland in the north by the North Ch ...
, while others have suggested that it may have been a lighthouse.
The hillfort is now mostly rubble, but its walls can still be made out, including a large stone rampart on the north and east sides which reaches 3 metres at points. The entrance to the fort was through a rocky gully. The footings of a tower were discovered when the site was excavated; its stones are believed to date from the 2nd to the 4th centuries.
Nestled below Caer y Twr is a group of several enclosed huts, named ''Cytiau Tŷ Mawr'' (the Holyhead Mountain Hut Circles), that also date from the 3rd to the 4th centuries, some of which still contain the accoutrements of life, such as hearths and shelves.
See also
*List of hillforts in Wales
This is a list of hillforts in Wales.
Anglesey
* Din Sylwy (Bwrdd Arthur) (), contour fort
* Caer Idris Hillfort (), promontory fort
* Caer y Twr (), partial contour fort
* Dinas Gynfor (), promontory fort
* Dinas Porth Ruffydd (), promontory ...
References
External links
Caer y Twr
, BBC
Caer y Twr
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
Roman Remains on Anglesey
, BBC {{DEFAULTSORT:Caer Y Twr Trearddur Scheduled monuments in Anglesey Roman fortifications in Anglesey Hillforts in Anglesey Roman legionary fortresses in Wales