Caerfai 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 43). The enclosure is located on a narrow coastal promontory above sea cliffs to west, south and east that are up to 30m high and form part of a defensive circuit along with a system of four man-made ramparts that curve across the 140m wide neck of the promontory. An accessible small natural harbour is located on the south side. The area enclosed was approximately square-shaped and about c 110m across although this has become significantly reduced by a deep gully in-cutting from the west which may eventually cause the interior to become an island. From the interior the defences comprise: a bank standing up to 2m above the interior and 3m above a ditch to the north, north of this a slighter bank, 1.5m high above the ditch and to the north again another ditch above which another third bank standing over 4m high, north of this bank is a further ditch, followed by a forth bank rising 2.2m high, followed by a final outer ditch. These four lines of bank and ditch are close-set and on the east side there is a gap in the two inner banks representing a simple entrance, accentuated by the outer bank turning to the north. Both banks then continue in a reduced form to the cliff edge; however the other two banks stop altogether about 30m short of this. The defences are probably of two phases with the two inner ramparts the earlier and it is possible the outermost bank may have been left unfinished.

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, layout, 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.