Camp 530m E of Tonmawr

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 earthwork enclosure. The date or precise nature of the enclosure is unknown, but it is likely to be later prehistoric. The site lies at 240m above OD on a broad spur west of Cwm Kenfig, about 4km north of Pyle on ground falling gently to the south-east. A rather irregular ring varying from 60 to 70m in diameter, area about 0.3ha, is defended by a single rampart which round the west half consists of a bank 8.5 to 10m wide, half a metre high internally and up to a metre externally, and elsewhere a scarp 4 to 6.5m wide and about 0.8m high except on the south-east where it reaches nearly 2m in height owing to the fall of ground. Round the north-west half there is also an outer ditch 8 to 12m wide and about half a metre deep; the outward turn of its counterscarp on the south-west suggests that it never extended round the remainder of the earthwork. The entrance is a simple gap on the south-west, now less than 2m wide. There are no internal structures.

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.