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A COUPLE'S long fight to get their home protected as a historial site of national importance has been won, but it could still be years before Brian and Kathryn Gibson finally discover whether Pen-y-Bryn at Aber is the site of the palace of the last Welsh princes, Llewellyn, in the late 13th century. Both Pen-y-Bryn and fields nearby at Pen-y-Mwd have been scheduled as ancient monuments of national importance following probes by archaeologists. 'This is a great leap forward but we're convinced that when it is properly investigated. Pen-y-Bryn will be the site of the court,' said Mr Gibson. The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments say the evidence suggests that Pen-y-Bryn could have been the royal farm rather than the court itself. Archaelogists have found mid-13th century pottery in fields next to the ancient mound of Pen-y-Mwd, across the stream from Pen-v-Bryn, and the metre-wide foundations of a large rectangular stone building. But Mrs Gibson said: "Pen-y-Bryn overlooks the other site: it is the natural defendable place for a court. 'This enclosure with a freestanding tower, double ditch and gatehouse is a lot just to defend a few farm animals. Mr David Austin, archaeology head at St David's University College. Lampeter, said: “Pen-y-Brvn seems to me the strongest contended: the enclosure is very large indeed and there are not many farms with a gatehouse of this size and splendour."Its location is very important: it is elevated and you can see many historical sites of fundamental importance from it” said Mr Austin, who has examined the site
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