Carningli is a famous hillfort believed to have been constructed in the Iron Age, between 2,700 to 2,000 years ago. The hillfort was strategically built on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by a rough stone bank. Over time, the site expanded, adding additional stone enclosures and entrances. This design was unusual in west Wales, and required significant effort and resources to build.
Inside the enclosures were numerous stone roundhouses with thatched roofs. These roundhouses served as dwelling places for domestic or communal activities. Today, the ruins of these houses can still be seen, offering glimpses into the past.
The people who inhabited Carningli in this period were self-sufficient. The old field boundaries in the surrounding lower grounds show how they relied on farming and livestock raising. The hillfort’s elevated position allowed the community to have a wide view, making it useful to monitor movements from inland and the sea.
Evidence of earlier Bronze Age activity, from around 4,300 to 2,700 years ago, can also be found around Carningli, with burial mounds and possible field boundaries dating back to that period.
Over time, the land around Carningli was cleared of stones, and became common land that was used for grazing. Despite these changes, the historical significance of Carningli remains.