Gelligaer Common Roman Road

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument consists of the remains of a road, dating to the Roman period (1st to 5th century AD). The Gelligaer Common road is part of the Roman road from Brecon to Cardiff. It was associated with the auxiliary fort at Gelligaer, as such, the road probably has a similar chronology to the fort. The earliest fort at the location was constructed between AD 75 and AD 100 and replaced by a stone-built fort between AD 103 and AD 111, which may have continued in use to the 4th century AD. The road is about 900m long and comprises a central causeway, or agger, some 4.0m wide and 0.5m high flanked by ditches 2.0m wide and 0.5m deep and external counterscarp banks also 2.0m wide and 0.5m in height. The road runs north to south across the common from SO 1046 0308 in the south to SO 1015 0390 in the north.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Roman military organisation/medieval transport systems. The monument forms an important element within the wider context of the Roman occupation/medieval settlement of Wales and the structure may contain well preserved archaeological evidence concerning chronology, layout and building techniques.

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