Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Esgair Gaeo Deserted Rural Settlement
Cynwyl Gaeo, Carmarthenshire, Wales
A scheduled monument in Cynwyl Gaeo, Carmarthenshire, recorded as Rectangular hut (Post Medieval/Modern).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Rectangular hut
- Period
- Post Medieval/Modern
- Date of designation
- 6 July 2000
- Community
- Cynwyl Gaeo
- Unitary authority
- Carmarthenshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.13808, -3.86592
- SAM number
- CM298
- Cadw record number
- 1632
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesBayerische Staatsbibliothek, MunichDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1588 map "Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0" (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1588 · Ortelius, Abraham: Theatro De La Tierra Universal. 0 (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich)
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 195 Lampeter (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument consists of the remains of a deserted rural settlement, probably dating to the medieval or post-medieval period. This compact upland farmstead is situated halfway along the valley at Esgair Gaeo. Well preserved features include the foundations of a once substantial stone walled building or long hut set within a large banked enclosure. Also within the enclosure is an earth platform which probably supported a timber or clom building, smaller associated pens, likely to have been used for herding animals and an unusual sunken “shelter” or hollow 8m x 4m in size.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval or post-medieval settlement organisation. The multiple features of this remote farmstead are well preserved and little disturbed. The archaeological potential of the site is very high, with internal and exterior floor levels likely to remain preserved beneath the current ground surface. Additional importance and interest is given by the unusual sunken feature within the enclosure unknown at other similar sites.
The scheduled area comprises a rectangle with sides 60m x 45m surrounding the main settlement enclosure.
Nearby in the register
- Carn Nant-yr-ast round cairnRound Cairnunder 1 mi
- Cairns & Stone Circle S of Pen-y-Raglan-WyntRing Cairn1 mi
- Penrhiwllwydog Round CairnRound Cairn2 mi
- Cairn Groups on Garn FawrRing Cairn2 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.