Hafotty Wern Las Hut Group & Fields

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a settlement or settlements, with associated fields, probably dating to the Iron Age and Roman-British periods.

It has been divided into three items. CN151A is a group of 4 round huts. CN151B to the SE, is an enclosed settlement of 2 rectangular and 1 circular hut, all built against the enclosing stone wall. Continuing to the SE, and upslope, CN151C is a group of terraced field enclosures, 2 of them circular and concentric, with others of irregular shape grouped around them. A modern track divides CN151A and B, and has destroyed the NW wall of the enclosed group (CN151B) and also made uncertain the relationship between the two parts.

The surrounding fields are dominated by the two circular, almost concentric, enclosures, the inner one being 25m in diameter and the outer 70m, both have entrances on the W. They have both been levelled into the slope, forming a terrace of at least 1.5m on the down-slope side, and cutting into the slope to a depth of 1.5m on the upper side. Other terraces adjoin these, forming enclosures to the N, W and S. The relationship between the terraced fields and the enclosed hut group is not known; it is possible that the inner of the concentric circles contains the site of an earlier settlement. The field system continues well outside the scheduled area and links up with another settlement 200m to the N, and perhaps also with a settlement 400m to the SE.

On the SW side of the site are the remains of a ruined cottage. The track which led to this cottage forms the SW boundary of the scheduled area.

The site was excavated in 1921-2.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric settlement. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.

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