The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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The Larches Camp earthwork, Caerwent

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00473g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Caerwent
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : ST43298996
Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Hillfort
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Earthwork occupies summit of heavily wooded hilltop & is in good condition. Interior is slightly above level of its defences. Consist of single bank & outer ditch.

Description :
Earthwork occupies summit of heavily wooded hilltop & is in good condition. Interior is slightly above level of its defences. Consist of single bank & outer ditch.

Located on top of a densely wooded ridge, the enclosure is roughly circular and bounded to the west, south and east by a bank and ditch. The bank itself measures 6m in depth and 2m into the internal area of the enclosure. There is no counterscarp on the outside.
The bank is of stone construction and sharply ridged with an entrance in the middle of the west side. The entrance is 2.5m in width and has a bank either side, turning inwards for a distance of about 12m. A 3m wide berm exists outside the bank to the north of the entrance where the bank itself is at a height of 1.2m. To the south of this entrance the bank is only 0.7m high on the inside and 2.5m high on the outside, and on this outer side it is more steep-sided.
On the south side the bank is also steep-sided, with a 1-1.5m height on the inside and 3.5m height on the outside. At this point the ditch outside is 1.5m deep, to the edge of the hilltop. There is no northern bank, as a steep scarp 2.5m high above a steep natural slope has been constructed to make use of the natural defence. The interior of the enclosure has a convex shape overall. (Wiggins 2006)

Sources :
Savory H.N. , 1950 , List of Hill-Forts and Other Earthworks in Wales: II Monmouthshire , The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : XIII pt.IV : 231-238
Wiggins, H , 2006 , Prehistoric defended enclosures in Gwent ( © GGAT)
05/PM List//RCAHM/1973/Gwent/7
06/MM AP/GGAT/Parkhouse JP/11.09.85//
04/MM Record Card/OS//1978/ST 48 NW 17/
03/MM Record Card/OS//1957/ST 48 NW 17/
02/PM List//Mon of Works/1955/List of Anc Mons/p92
01/PM List//Savory HN/1948-50/BBCS/V13 p235

Events :
E001550 : Prehistoric defended enclosures Gwent (year : 2006)
E004581 : Forest Enterprise Welsh Heritage Assets Project:Rhondda/St Gwynno (year : 1999)
E006735 : Land at the Former Tythe House, Church Road, Undy, Monmouthshire (year : 2020)
E008773 : GGAT52: Monmouthshire Historic Settlements, Caldicot & Raglan (year : 1999)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 307950 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307950/details

Compiled date : 02-02-1988


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