Danish Camp

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

Danish Camp a defended enclosure probably dating to the Iron Age (c. 800 BC - AD 43). The site lies at 220m above OD on ground falling to the west, just outside the north-east boundary wall of Margam deer park.

The monument consists of a simple earthwork oval enclosure, measuring about 42m long from north to south by 33m wide, though the west side is largely destroyed.The enclosed area is approximately 0.1ha. and is defined by a single bank, best preserved on the east where it is 3.5m wide and 0.7m high. The position of the entrance is uncertain.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of late prehistoric agricultural and defensive organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider Iron Age context (Mynydd Margam is particularly archaeologically rich) and may be expected to contain archaeological information regarding elements such as chronology, building techniques and social organisation.

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