Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the scheduled monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a dyke, a defensive boundary or earthwork, dating to the later prehistoric/medieval period. At the north-east Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke rests on a stream-bank, with a ditch and counterscarp bank visible. Upon entering a wood and approaching a brook three banks and two ditches are visible and well preserved. Within a few yards of the brook is an original entrance causeway 3m wide, banked across the ditches. On the other side beyond the brook the dyke continues as before but the second and third banks die out on top of the hill by Bidffald (possibly one has been ploughed out). Beyond Bidffald three banks are again visible in the wood. Beyond the wood the system is completely ploughed out except for the first bank, visible as a scarp under the hedge. In the next wood, the bank (or scarp), ditch and counterscarp occur, but in open areas only the scarp and occasionally the ditch are visible along by Ty-newydd. Beyond Ty-newydd there is a bank only, with a possible ditch as far as the road at Pen-y-Boncyn.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric/medieval defensive organisation and settlement. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A dyke may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can 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.