Earthwork on Kilvey Hill

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a Romano-British enclosure dating to the Roman period (AD 74 - 410). The embanked enclosure is roughly oval on plan, measuring 63m east-west by 50m north-south. It is situated on level ground 110 above OD on the north side of Kilvey Hill.

The area enclosed is approximately 0.25 ha. The enclosure is best preserved on the western side where it is defined by a bank 0.50m high, following a regular curve and fronted by a slight shallow ditch. The overall width of the bank and ditch combined being 7m on this side. Along the northern side the bank has been truncated by a later field boundary. On the southern side the bank is very slight, no more than 0.20m high and spread to approximately 10m in width. On the eastern side it is absent altogether.

Excavation in 1968 discovered a bank on each side of the ditch, which was originally 3m wide and 1.5m deep, with a flat bottom and steep sides. A sherd of Samian bowl, c. AD 125-150 was found beneath the inner bank.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Romano-British rural settlement and social organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider context of Romano-British society in Wales and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. The importance of the site is further enhanced by its demonstrable potential to contain a varied finds assemblage.

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