Bowett Wood Camp

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument comprises the remains of a defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). It occupies a blunt promontory at naturally protected on the west, north and east sides by 20m high steep valley sides leading down to tributary streams of Quoits Water Pill. An old quarry has cut in to the slope to the north. The south side is defended by a bank and ditch c 70m long; the bank standing to c.2m high and the ditch c.3m wide. The entrance was probably between the west end of the rampart and the valley side. The area enclosed measures c 50m north to south by 62m east to west. A short distance across the valley to the west is another potentially contemporaneous sub-oval enclosure, badly ploughed-down this has not been scheduled.

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