Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment
Record
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Treffgarne Gorge
Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 35821 Trust : Dyfed Community : Wolfscastle Unitary authority : Pembrokeshire NGR : SM96062431 Site Type (preferred type first) : Iron Age Defended Enclosure Status : Scheduled Monument
Summary : This is one of the best examples of a small defended enclosure in west Wales. It is located on the edge of a southwest-facing scarp slope, at 60m above sea level, that drops steeply to the Afon Cleddau Wen below. Unusually the interior is situated on both the level ground at the top of the slope and on the steep slope itself. The site is defined by a single bank and ditch. The bank is best preserved on the east (upslope) side of the site where it stands c.1m internally and c.3m externally above the ditch. The bank fades as it runs to the north and south, eventually represented by just a steep scarp slope on the west side. The ditch is present around the full circuit of the enclosure. On average it is c.3m deep. There is a slight counterscarp, 0.5m high, on the western, downslope, side. Internally the enclosure measures approximately c.25m north-south by c.20m east-west. The roughly circular interior slopes down from east to west. The slope is gentle on the east side, but steeper on the west. The simple entrance is on the south side, at the point where the valley side falls steeply away. Unusually the bank terminals either side of the entrance show evidence of a single stone course revetment. The site is under coniferous forestry. There are two old badger setts on the western side of the interior, and many other setts in the surrounding woodland, some of which are active. A mountain bike course runs around the site, mostly along the base of the ditch, but on the east side it runs up along the front edge of the bank creating a c.0.5m deep scar in the bank. K Murphy October 2008
Description : The site was located in 2008. It is one of the best examples of a small defended enclosure in west Wales. It is located on the edge of a southwest-facing scarp slope, at 60m above sea level, that drops steeply to the Afon Cleddau Wen below. Unusually the interior is situated on both the level ground at the top of the slope and on the steep slope itself. The site is defined by a single bank and ditch. The bank is best preserved on the east (upslope) side of the site where it stands c.1m internally and c.3m externally above the ditch. The bank fades as it runs to the north and south, eventually represented by just a steep scarp slope on the west side. The ditch is present around the full circuit of the enclosure. On average it is c.3m deep. There is a slight counterscarp, 0.5m high, on the western, downslope, side. Internally the enclosure measures approximately c.25m north-south by c.20m east-west. The roughly circular interior slopes down from east to west. The slope is gentle on the east side, but steeper on the west. The simple entrance is on the south side, at the point where the valley side falls steeply away. Unusually the bank terminals either side of the entrance show evidence of a single stone course revetment. The site is under coniferous forestry. There are two old badger setts on the western side of the interior, and many other setts in the surrounding woodland, some of which are active. A mountain bike course runs around the site, mostly along the base of the ditch, but on the east side it runs up along the front edge of the bank creating a c.0.5m deep scar in the bank. K Murphy October 2008
Not located during the 2006 Pembrokeshire Defended Enclosures Project because the given NGR was incorrect.
Horse-shoe shaped bank and ditch with the open side closed by the steep slope of the gorge, in dense conifer plantation. EMB based on Turner 1990. 21/04/98.
1990 a CADW inspector was shown an earthwork by the landowner. It was described as a substantial horse-shoe shaped bank and ditch with the open side parallel to the steep slope of the gorge. This description was given the PRN 35821, but the site had already been described by the RCAHM in 1925, and given the PRN 2460. Both PRNs had different sets of incorrect co-ordinates. The correct NGR for this site is SM96062431. F Murphy 2008
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