Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises a defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). It is located on the summit of a SW-facing promontory overlooking the Aeron valley to the S. The enclosure is an elongated oval in shape and measures 150m NE-SW by 50m transversely. The NE side is defended by a bank that measures 2m in height externally, but lies level with the interior. A simple gap marks the location of the entrance. The SW side is defended by a bank that measures up to 2m in height externally and a shallow outer ditch. On the NW and SE sides where the ground falls away steeply there is no obvious trace of a bank.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation. It forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. Although the site lies under improved pasture, much archaeological potential remains; both the interior and rampart may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology, building techniques and functional detail.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is an irregular polygon in shape on plan and measures 195m NE-SW by 90m transversely.