tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228690739485734684.post6072730858870882730..comments2024-03-28T22:13:17.139+00:00Comments on Stonehenge and the Ice Age: Garn Fawr ring cairnBRIAN JOHNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413447032454568083noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228690739485734684.post-38537323364687894842016-12-09T10:19:35.093+00:002016-12-09T10:19:35.093+00:00Just east of the main site is 'Garn Fechan'...Just east of the main site is 'Garn Fechan', also a defended enclosure, so we have 'big' and 'little'versions.<br /><br />DaveDave Maynardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162915474983638825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228690739485734684.post-44978562949628702512016-12-09T10:04:19.701+00:002016-12-09T10:04:19.701+00:00Thank you guys -- that's very helpful. Spot o...Thank you guys -- that's very helpful. Spot on! I am obviously not patient enough when searching the Coflein data base...... it's referred to as an Iron Age defended enclosure. The field walls to east and west do seem to be parts of an outer curved defensive embankment.<br /><br />The association between ring cairn and fortified hill summit is an interesting one. On Carningli there are several very clear hut circles close to the hill fort, but they are rather flimsy structures in comparison to Ysgubor Gaer, which seems to have a substantial embankment. There are ring cairns on Carningli, but they are much further away. So is this all much more complicated than an old Bronze Age landscape with hut circles and enclosures being followed by the development of an Iron Age fortified settlement? <br /><br />This has also got me thinking about place names. Ysgubor Gaer would mean "the granary of the fort" -- which makes a lot of sense....... But I notice that on Coflein the spectacular Garn Fawr hillfort is also named Gaer Fawr -- which would not mean "the big rocky hill" but "the big fort". <br /><br />I wonder whether Carningli might originally have been called "Caer Ingli"? That would not have meant "the rocky hill of the angels" but maybe "Ingli's fort" -- with "Ingli" being the personal name of a chieftain rather than a corrupted version of the old Welsh name for angels.<br /><br />Intruguing thoughts......BRIAN JOHNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00413447032454568083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228690739485734684.post-7809091467199063812016-12-09T09:21:21.206+00:002016-12-09T09:21:21.206+00:00It is well known and marked as Ysgubor Gaer on OS ...It is well known and marked as Ysgubor Gaer on OS maps. Although overgrown it is very visible from the footpath that runs around the contour just above it.CysgodyCastellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13620207303913151566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228690739485734684.post-64573153964694661222016-12-09T07:45:23.890+00:002016-12-09T07:45:23.890+00:00Is this the one you're looking for?
Ysgubor G...Is this the one you're looking for?<br /><br />Ysgubor Gaer<br />http://map.coflein.gov.uk/index.php?action=do_details&cache_name=cG5tcnNuYW1lLHlzZ3Vib3IgZ2Flcl9zZWFyY2h0eXBlLGFkdmFuY2VkX29yYQ==&numlink=305165#tabs-4<br /><br />I remember reading an article a long time ago about hillforts paired with smaller defended enclosures. I forget the reference, maybe it was Hogg, but I'm sure Gaer Fawr was mentioned there as an example.<br /><br />Perhaps it is the derivation of the names Gaer Fawr, with this being the 'little' one?<br /><br />DaveDave Maynardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162915474983638825noreply@blogger.com