Bedd-y-Cawr Hillfort

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description for the scheduled ancient monument.

Bedd-y-Cawr Hillfort comprises the remains of a defended enclosure or hillfort. Such enclosures probably date to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74), although several are known to date from the Late Bronze Age with activity through to the early post-Roman period. Bedd-y-Cawr is an inland promontory hillfort, located on the south-eastern end of the ridge of Bryn Meriadog, with views south and east over the valley of the River Elwy. The monument forms a roughly rectangular enclosure, c.156m by 74m, defined by a bank and ditch to the NW and NE, elsewhere resting on rock outcrops. The south-eastern end has been destroyed by later quarrying.

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.