Gaer Wen

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 an earthwork enclosure. The date or precise nature of the enclosure is unknown, but it is likely to be later prehistoric or medieval. Gaer Wen is situated on a gentle south-east facing slope and is roughly circular, measuring c.70m in diameter overall and c.58m internally. It is bisected from north-west to south-east by a modern field boundary, the former line of which, marked by a stone field wall, followed the south-western arc of the enclosure defences. This half of the enclosure bank rises to a height of c.1.2m, while the more spread bank in the north-eastern half is c.1m high. An internal earthwork c.0.8m high with a right-angled corner lies within the northern part of the north-eastern half, adjoining the main bank at its north-western and north-eastern ends; there are traces on air photographs of a second internal earthwork running south-west from a point about halfway along the south-western section of this bank. To the south of this, in the south-western half of the site, undulations mark the site of a probable building platform c.10m in diameter. Air photographs indicate the former presence of a substantial ditch and hint at a possible entrance on the south-east.

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.