Buarth-y-Gaer
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 Ramparts of Buarth-y-Gaer, along southeast side. | |
  Buarth-y-Gaer, within Briton Ferry Community, Neath Port Talbot | |
| Location | summit of Mynydd-y-Gaer, Neath Port Talbot, Wales (OS Grid ref SS765939) |
|---|---|
| Region | South Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°37′39″N 3°47′06″W / 51.6276°N 3.7849°W |
| Type | Hillfort |
| Area | 1.1 ha (2.7 acres) |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Cultures | Celtic Brittonic |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | A single bank and ditch, damaged by quarrying on south side. |
| Public access | No |
| Reference no. | GM054 |
Buarth-y-Gaer (pronounced [ˈbɪ.arθ ə ɡɑːɨr]) is an Iron Age hillfort or enclosure on the summit of Mynydd-y-Gaer, 300 m (980 ft) above sea level. It is in Briton Ferry community, near Neath, in Neath Port Talbot, South Wales.[1] A large hilltop enclosure is bounded by a single bank and ditch. Within the enclosed area is a Bronze Age burial mound.
The hillfort is on the highest point of Mynydd-y-Gaer. It is one of three hillforts on this broad upland ridge; Craig Ty-Isaf is a much smaller hillfort to the south-west, close to Baglan, whilst Gaer Fawr is 800 m (870 yd) to the north. Mynydd-y-Gaer has a rounded hilltop, with grassland fields and stone walls running up to Buarth-y-Gaer. The hill stands above the Neath estuary and Briton Ferry, on the other side of Briton Ferry Woods, some 3 km (1.9 miles) to the north-west.[2] The village of Baglan is at the foot of the hill, 1 km (0.62 miles) to the south-west. A slightly higher mountain, Foel Fynyddau lies to the east. Although the hillfort lies within Briton Ferry community, the south and east banks of the fort are on the boundary with Baglan community.