Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Garn Saethon Defended Settlement
Buan, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Enclosure - Defensive
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 9 March 2010
- Community
- Buan
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.87409, -4.53047
- SAM number
- CN408
- Cadw record number
- 1402
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1608 "(13) Cambriae Typus." (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 comprises the remains of a small defended settlement, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 43). The settlement is located on the N and W sides of Garn Saethon and is defended by a well-preserved earth and stone rampart that runs in an arc on the N, W and SW sides of the site along the 210m contour line. The natural steep and craggy slopes form the defensive elements of the site on the S and E sides. Within the enclosed area are a number of probable hut platforms. Overall the monument measures 130m N/S by 110m E/W, with the rampart having an internal height of 1m.
The monument has survived in exceptional condition and the enclosure bank is particularly noteworthy. The interior too is relatively undisturbed, ensuring significant survival of archaeological deposits with the potential to provide detailed information on chronology, layout, building techniques and functional detail.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around which related evidence is likely to survive. It is roughly circular in shape on plan and measures 145m N-S by 125m transversely and is located at NGR SH29817/33722.
Nearby in the register
- Church of St MichaelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Outbuilding to N of SaethonAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Hut Circle Settlement at Pen-y-CaerauUnenclosed hut circleunder 1 mi
- Outbuilding to E of SaethonDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.