Promontory Fort on Little Castle Head

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 the sea that marks part of the defensive circuit. It is defended by a rampart on the north side running c.25m across the neck of the promontory. Currently this encloses an area of c.55m north to south by 30m east to west with the sides naturally defended by 10m high sea cliffs, however as active coastal erosion is occurring the interior may once have been much larger. The rampart is made up of a bank rising up to 3m with ditches on both landward and seaward sides. The ditch on the landward side is rock-cut, v-shaped, and up to 1.2m deep, on the seaward side the ditch is less severe. There is no obvious entrance and this has presumably been removed by erosion.

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.