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A Boundary in Stones: The Chevaux-de-Frise

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Monumentality in Later Prehistory
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Abstract

The chevaux-de-frise, an arrangement of small standing stones set in the original ground surface, is found outside later prehistoric forts across much of Atlantic Europe, and has been interpreted in military, defensive, and symbolic terms. The chevaux-de-frise at Castell Henllys is one of the best preserved excavated examples because it was found beneath a later rampart which formed part of the fort’s annexe outworks. The Castell Henllys chevaux-de-frise was c. 38 m long and up to 3 m wide, placed across the saddle of the promontory. It was constructed from field stones with a greater concentration of quartz at its terminals and more shale and igneous rocks in the centre.

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Mytum, H. (2013). A Boundary in Stones: The Chevaux-de-Frise . In: Monumentality in Later Prehistory. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8027-3_5

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