Pen-y-Crug

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a mulitvallate hillfort probably dating to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). Pen-y-Crug hillfort is situated about 1 mile west of Slwch Camp, on an isolated outcrop to the north-west of Brecon. It has three banks and a ditch, but on the north side there are four banks, as there is less natural protection from the hill-slope. The original entrance is on the south-east rampart, where there is a gradual approach across a short plateau. At the entrance the primary and secondary banks are slightly incurved, but this is not evident on the tertiary bank. There is also a fourth bank on the west side of the entrance, which forms one side of a near triangular enclosure. The other two sides of which are formed by a single crescent shaped bank running out from it. This area appears to have been disturbed.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation and settlement. The site forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.