Caerau Promontory Forts

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 two linked defended enclosures, which probably date to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 43). Both coastal promontory forts they are naturally defended on their north sides by sea cliffs. The western enclosure has curving lines of banks and ditches defending the south side of an interior area that now measuring c 65m east to west by c 55m north to south though it is assumed much has been lost to the sea. The complex of defences consists of three lines of bank and ditch, the banks rising to c 2.5m above the interior of the fort and above the ditch bottoms. The configuration of the defences suggests at least two phases of construction. There is no evidence for an entrance which may have been lost to erosion. A single line of bank and ditch runs eastward to link with the adjacent smaller fort which has a curving bivallate defence on the south. The inner bank measures c 1.2m high and is flanked by a ditch. The low outer bank is visible on aerial photographs about 15m outside the line of the inner. The entrance is at the eastern end of the inner bank where it terminates short of the cliff. The interior of the fort is also now much reduced as a result of coastal erosion and measures about 30m by 35m.

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 but excludes the outer bank of the eastern fort.