{{Short description|Iron age hillfort in Flintshire, Wales}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use British English|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox ancient site |name = Moel Arthur |native_name = |alternate_name = |image = Moel Arthur, Sir Ddinbych 04.JPG |image_size = |alt = |caption = Viewed from the south-east |map_type = Wales Flintshire |map_alt = |map_size = 180px |location = Near Denbigh, Wales |region = |coordinates = {{coord|53|11|4|N|3|16|50|W|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:GB}} |gbgridref = SJ 14529 66034 |type = Hillfort |part_of = |length = {{convert|160|m|ft}} |width = {{convert|140|m|ft}} |area = {{convert|1.8|ha}} |height = {{convert|455.8|m|ft}} |epochs = Iron Age }} '''Moel Arthur''' ('Arthur's Hill') is an Iron Age hillfort in Flintshire, Wales, at the boundary with Denbighshire, about {{convert|5|mi|km}} east of Denbigh.
It is on a prominent hill, height {{convert|455.8|m|ft}},<ref>[https://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=5155 "Moel Arthur"] Hill Bagging. Retrieved 22 August 2019.</ref> in the Clwydian Range; it overlooks the Vale of Clwyd to the west. Offa's Dyke Path skirts the hill. It is about {{convert|1|mi|km}} south-east of the hillfort of Penycloddiau.
==Description== The oval fort is about {{convert|160|m|ft}} north–south and {{convert|140|m|ft}} east–west, enclosing an area of {{convert|1.8|ha}}. There are two large banks and ditches to the north, where the hill slope is not steep; above the steep south-west, south and east slopes there is a single bank. At the north-east, at the edge of the steeper slopes, there is a narrow inturned entrance with an oblique approach. The form of entrance, and the simple plan of the fort, suggest that it is an early example.<ref>Christopher Houlder. ''Wales: An Archaeological Guide''. Faber and Faber, 1978. Page 74.</ref><ref name=coflein>{{Coflein|num=306899|desc=Moel Arthur, hillfort|access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref><ref name=aonb>[https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/moel-arthur/ "Moel Arthur"] Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB. Retrieved 22 August 2019.</ref>
Within the fortifications, there is a rounded summit. In the north and east of the interior there is a broad terrace, and building platforms have been found.<ref name=coflein/>
There was excavation in 1849 by Wynne Ffoulkes. He found "coarse red Roman pottery" which has not been preserved; it is not known if it was Roman, which would suggest occupation into the Roman period, or prehistoric. He found traces of a drystone construction, destroyed during the excavation, near the south of the entrance. In 1962, three copper Bronze Age axes were found within the defences.<ref name=coflein/><ref name=aonb/>
==See also== * Hillforts in Britain * List of Scheduled Monuments in Flintshire
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Moel Arthur}}
Category:Hillforts in Flintshire Category:Hillforts in Denbighshire Category:Scheduled monuments in Flintshire Category:Mountains and hills of Flintshire