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Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure

A Scheduled Monument in Nantcwnlle (Nancwnlle), Ceredigion

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Coordinates

Latitude: 52.2048 / 52°12'17"N

Longitude: -4.0831 / 4°4'59"W

OS Eastings: 257748

OS Northings: 258328

OS Grid: SN577583

Mapcode National: GBR DR.39VK

Mapcode Global: VH4GB.5VS6

Entry Name: Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure

Scheduled Date: 14 January 2008

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 1250

Cadw Legacy ID: CD261

Schedule Class: Defence

Category: Promontory Fort - inland

Period: Prehistoric

County: Ceredigion

Community: Nantcwnlle (Nancwnlle)

Traditional County: Cardiganshire

Description

The monument comprises a defended enclosure, which probably dates to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC - AD 74, the Roman conquest of Wales). It is located on the summit of a SW-facing promontory overlooking the Aeron valley to the S. The enclosure is an elongated oval in shape and measures 150m NE-SW by 50m transversely. The NE side is defended by a bank that measures 2m in height externally, but lies level with the interior. A simple gap marks the location of the entrance. The SW side is defended by a bank that measures up to 2m in height externally and a shallow outer ditch. On the NW and SE sides where the ground falls away steeply there is no obvious trace of a bank.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation. It forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. Although the site lies under improved pasture, much archaeological potential remains; both the interior and rampart may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology, building techniques and functional detail.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is an irregular polygon in shape on plan and measures 195m NE-SW by 90m transversely.

Source: Cadw

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