Trawscoed (also Trawsgoed) was a Roman auxiliary fort on the north bank of the river Ystwyth in Ceredigion, established in the mid-AD 70s, probably during the Frontinus governorship and the campaigns to subdue the Silures and Ordovices. It enclosed roughly 2.4 hectares (about 6 acres), consistent with a garrison of a quingenary cohort, and remained in use into the early-to-mid 2nd century before being abandoned as the military grip on western Wales relaxed.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
The fort formed part of the network of garrisons linking Caerleon and Chester to the western Welsh seaboard, controlling movement along the Ystwyth valley and likely supporting exploitation of nearby lead-silver deposits, particularly those around Cwmystwyth and the wider Ceredigion ore field. Its position overlooking a Roman river crossing also made it a key node on the road heading inland toward Pumsaint/Dolaucothi.
The fort was identified from aerial photography and confirmed by excavations directed by Jeffrey Davies from the 1970s onward, which revealed timber barracks, granaries, a defensive ditch system, and at least two phases of occupation with evidence of demolition and reconstruction. Associated finds include samian ware, coins, and a small extramural vicus and bathhouse to the south, while geophysical survey has further clarified the internal layout.
Trawscoed (also Trawsgoed) was a Roman auxiliary fort on the north bank of the river Ystwyth in Ceredigion, established in the mid-AD 70s, probably during the Frontinus governorship and the campaigns to subdue the Silures and Ordovices. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Trawscoed fort is classified as a Roman fort — a military site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Pen-Llwyn fort (8.9 km), Bremia (16.4 km), Cae Gaer Roman fort (16.9 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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