Enclosure & Settlement 400m East of Cyfannedd Fawr

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument consists of a portion of relict landscape, which may have developed over a long timespan from the prehistoric to the medieval period. The area includes the remains of a well-preserved stone-built enclosure c.40m in diameter, towards the south of the scheduled area, modified to include three small rectangular structures within its wall, and surrounding a probable round hut. To the north-east of the enclosure are the foundations of two oval or rectangular buildings and further remains which may be those of other buildings; there are also clearance cairns and field walls within the scheduled area and beyond; two of these walls can be seen disappearing into the forestry on the west side. The features lie on a north-west facing slope close to an ancient routeway through the Meirionnydd hills, and are among a number of sites in the local area which represent the ritual and settlement landscape along this routeway.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of past settlement and agricultural practices, domestic life and social organisation. The site is well preserved and retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits, including environmental and structural evidence, and evidence relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. The site forms an important element within the surrounding landscape. This settlement and field system is part of a larger cluster of monuments, the importance of which is further enhanced by their group value.

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