The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Gaer Defended Enclosure

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01958g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Llanelly
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO22481530
Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Enclosure
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
A small defended oval-shaped enclosure measuring 104 x 80m. Comprised of a single bank, constructed of earth and stone, the bank measures 2m in height and is 6.5m wide with an entrance on the SE side. The outer ditch is visible on the W and SW sides, measuring 0.3m deep and 5m wide (Cadw 2009).

Description :
A small defended oval-shaped enclosure measuring 104 x 80m. Comprised of a single bank, constructed of earth and stone, the bank measures 2m in height and is 6.5m wide with an entrance on the SE side. The outer ditch is visible on the W and SW sides, measuring 0.3m deep and 5m wide (Cadw 2009).

A small, oval, univallate enclosure stands at 290m above OD on a moderate E facing slope, 0.8km northwest of Llanelli church. The position has no particular strength as it is approached easily from all directions. The interior rises from east to west and a small rocky knoll on the north forms its highest point.
The site is covered in grass and bracken, and trees grow on the line of the defences. The bank has been robbed if its stone in places and part of the interior knoll has been quarried. Several modern tracks breach the rampart and a ruined field wall crosses the west corner. Around the south perimeter are dumps of stone from recent field clearance and other modern disturbances.
The site measure internally 79.5m northwest to southeast by 69m, an area of about 0.43ha. The single rampart was constructed predominantly of stone to judge from the considerable amount visible in its grassed scarps. Just north of the entrance a short stretch of front and rear revetment wall is preserved which indicates the original width of the rampart base was between 6m and 6.5m. Four courses of drystone walling composed of superimposed flattish stones is visible. On the north and northeast the rampart has been reduced to an outwards-facing scarp up to 3m high. Elsewhere, it survives up to 0.6m high and its outer scarp as low as 0.3m high on the north-northwest. A ditch is present in two unconnected lengths on the west and southwest, a maximum of 0.3m deep. There area vague hints that it continued further south but it is uncertain whether or not it surrounded the whole site. The entrance is a simple, sunken gap I the ramparts on the southeast. There are no ancient features in the interior.
A field site visit in 2006 it is considered as an exceptional example of a univallate hillslope site under 1ha in area. (Wiggins 2006)

Sources :
Cadw , New Entry to the Schedule of Monuments
Wiggins, H , 2006 , Prehistoric defended enclosures in Gwent ( © GGAT)
01/Desc Text/Cadw/new entry to the schedule of monuments/2009/copy in further information file

Events :
E001519 : Field visit to Gaer (year : 2006)
E001550 : Prehistoric defended enclosures Gwent (year : 2006)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 306249 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/306249/details

Compiled date : 15-02-1988


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