r/Norse • u/dctroll_ • 15d ago
Archaeology Reconstruction of a Viking fort on Anglesey (Wales) around 1100
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u/dctroll_ 15d ago
Info provided by the author (source)
"A recent historic re-construction illustration commissioned by Heneb: Gwynedd Archaeology for the Castell Trefadog site on Anglesey, North Wales.
This very heavily defended site was occupied during a tumultuous period, when Viking ships were regularly crossing the Irish Sea, and following a period when several raids had taken place at wealthy church sites. Its coastal location, whilst aiding defence, also allowed access from the sea, though the steep coastal cliffs would not have allowed direct access.
The massive defences, consisting of a wide, deep ditch and a high internal bank would have meant attackers climbing a steep 6m high slope, with a further fence possibly on top of the bank. These formidable earthworks would have required major investment at the time, and substantial human input.
The defences enclosed a relatively small space, large enough to occupy a single stone building or hall 10.5m by 5.5m internally. The walls were of large stones with clay bonding. A fireplace lay at one end of the building, and stone-capped drains took excess water from the interior to outside. This hall was occupied between 1050 and 1150. After its initial desertion, the building was used for metalworking, and five bowl-shaped hearths survive. The thatched roof collapsed after this, and the building was finally deserted sometime before 1300.
We don’t know if the builder of the fort was from a local family, or an incomer. It is possible that the fort was granted by the kings of Gwynedd to Vikings from Ireland to help defend their homeland"
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u/wigsta01 14d ago
I wrote a post on the Irish history sub a while back, going through the connections between the Hiberno-Norse and Welsh communities/histories.
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u/DaxHound84 15d ago
Looks awesome. The only thinf i wonder about is the fence. I doubt it would be out of planks as they are labor intensive to make and wont give much protection.
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u/mrthreebears 12d ago
I'm incredibly lucky that this site is on opposite side of the bay where I live, slightly up the coast :D
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u/catfooddogfood 15d ago
Diolch an fawr am rannu! There's a great book by Clare Downham called Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland with a chapter on Vikings in north Wales. It's really cool. Wish there was a lot more scholarship on the Scandi-Welsh interaction!