Y Gaer

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 an Iron Age (800BC-AD74) defended enclosure. It consists of two oval concentric enclosures, separated by a space of approximately 10m. The inner enclosure measures 65m long from east to west by 50m, the outer measures 120m long by about 105m.

Each enclosure is defended by a single bank which has been reduced to a scarp except on the eastern and western sides of the inner circuit and on the north-west of the outer circuit. The banks are 10.5 to 12m wide. The internal height of the banks is slight except on the north-west of the outer circuit where it reaches 1.5m. The external bank height averages nearly 2.5m. A shallow external ditch 6-9m wide is visible along part of the western side. The entrance through both ramparts is on the north; the inner entrance appears to be slightly in-turned but its western side is disturbed. A stony hollow at the centre of the enclosures is probably the site of a building which is shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1813.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of late prehistoric defensive organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider Iron Age context and may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to elements such as chronology, building techniques and social organisation.

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