Court Wood Enclosure 500m SSW of Pen-Llwyn-Isaf

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 which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). It occupies a low knoll on a hill close to the sea with wide views to the south west (including PRN 1645). A single bank and ditch encloses the knoll (an area of 0.25ha.) with an additional length of bank and internal ditch running tangentially to the main body of the enclosure on the north-west. The enclosure rampart bank has an inner height of 1-1.4m and an exterior height of 2-2.5m, and the ditch is traceable, especially to the east and north. The site was excavated in 1977 and at least 3 phases of structure were revealed. The latest, post bank phase, was an undated structure consisting of a rectangular arrangement of postholes with associated paving. Below this was a bank and ditch, for which there was no dating evidence. Below the bank was a sealed layer containing occupation debris and a number of structural features. Charcoal from this deposit yielded a radiocarbon date of 335 ± 45bc. To the rear of the bank were eroded traces of occupation, including a setting of four postholes in a 3m square. The site is associated with nearby cultivation terraces.

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.