Porth y Bwch Defended Enclosure

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument, also known as Pen Dinas Fach, 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 steep sea cliffs that mark the defensive circuit on the N, W and S sides. The promontory is linked via a steep and narrow neck to the mainland above on the E side. The neck measures 30m in length E-W and 3m in width. The defensive bank and ditch survive as slight earthworks on the landward side of the promontory neck. The N-S aligned bank measures 0.3m in height and 2m in width. Traces of a ditch survive on the E side. The interior measures 30m N-S by 30m E-W. The E side is flat and slopes steeply to the N, W and S. It is occupied by a prominent roundhouse foundation. It comprises an annular bank, which measures 7m in diameter. The bank measures 1m in height and 1m in width.

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. The roundhouse foundation is a rare survival. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, layout, building techniques and functional detail.

The area to be scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is an irregular polygon in shape on plan and measures 115m ENE-WSW by a maximum of 28m transversely.