Cwmbettws Defended Enclosure

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The site comprises two enclosures; one substantial defended enclosure which dates to the Iron Age (c.800BC - 43AD) and one smaller enclosure represented by a slight earthwork, also thought to date to the Iron Age. The two are only 110m apart, and clearly intervisible. Item A is located on a natural promontory. It is an enclosure c.35m E-W, defended to the north by a natural steep drop. To the south and west the ground slopes steadily down - on these sides the earthwork defences are constructed to augment the natural contours of the hill and consist of a bank and ditch on the south side and a terraced scarp on the southwest side. Here the interior of the site is raised up to 1m above the surrounding ground. To the east, the ground is more level and the defences of a bank and ditch can clearly be seen. Item B is a small earthwork enclosure, 17m in diameter with a scooped interior, and defended by a plough-spread bank up to 0.4m in height. Traces of an external ditch encircle the earthwork, and there may be an entrance on the west side.
These sites are of national importance for their potential to enhance our knowledge of Iron Age land-use and settlement, as well as the chronology and construction of different forms of prehistoric enclosure. The very close proximity of these two different forms of enclosure is unusual, and their potential to shed light on contrasting aspects of Iron Age life lends them substantial group value. Item A is well-preserved, and is one of a large group of Iron Age enclosures, widespread in Pembrokeshire. Item B is less well-preserved but its completeness of form lends it a significance which, combined with its group value with Item A, merits its inclusion on the Schedule.
The Scheduled area comprise those remains described, and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Area A is centred on NGR SN16933 40414 and measures 50m N-S and 65m E-W. Area B is centred on SN17061 40123 and measures 23m N-S and 25m E-W.