Camp & Fields on New Pieces, Breiddin Hill

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The monument comprises the remains of an earthwork/stone-built enclosure, and associated field system.

New Pieces enclosure consists of a sub-oval enclosure, c.56m N-S by 54m E-W, lying 300m to the south of the Breiddin Hillfort, and set below the summit of the southern face of New Pieces Ridge. The enclosure is fairly weakly defended, comprising of two lines of ramparts with a single entrance situated in the middle of the western outer rampart. Excavations in 1933-35 demonstrated occupation dating to the Romano-British period (2nd to 4th century AD). Being defensively weak, it is thought that the enclosure was probably agricultural in function. A complex of ruined stone walls on a roughly northwest to southeast axis is situated on the northwestern face of the New Pieces ridge and the col, immediately outside the defences of the Breiddin hillfort. These walls appear integrated with the New Pieces enclosure, and presumably date to the same period and functioned as agricultural field systems.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric agricultural and 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.