ME099

Ceunant Egryn Enclosed Settlement  

18/05/1989  

Designated  

Gwynedd  

Dyffryn Ardudwy  

260550  

320628  

Domestic  

Enclosed hut circle  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the scheduled monument. The monument consists of the remains of a small settlement, probably of Iron Age or Romano-British date (c.800 BC - AD 400), situated in open rough pasture above a steep natural precipice which falls to the Ceunant Egryn stream to the south. A central hut circle lies within concentric defences, one side formed by a sheer drop to the stream and the other (N) scarped into the slope above and faced with walling. The remains of this wall now do not stand above the ground surface on the upper side, or barely, but there was probably once a free-standing wall above the retaining walling. There is little in the way of evidence for walling on the S, above the drop, and the ends of the wall seem to fade out before they reach the edge (although on the W the wall seems to turn towards the hut site before petering out), so there may have been little more than a fence or palisade on this side - or the stone has all fallen over the edge. The interior evidently has been levelled to some extent, as is clear from the way the ground has been cut away at the back. The central hut circle, or perhaps more accurately, hut platform, can just be traced on the ground, but shows up more clearly on air photographs. There is what appears to be a well-defined and perhaps ancient trackway passing the site on the N, which has the appearance of revetting along the lower side. The whole area is covered with field walls, some of which are likely to be contemporary with the site. There is an especially good field system stretching away to the W. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric settlement practices. It is an important relic of the prehistoric landscape and retains significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of environmental and structural evidence, including preserved internal and external floor levels. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.