CN088

Early Habitation Site 180m West of Pen-Yr-Allt  

 

Designated  

Gwynedd  

Llanllyfni  

247923  

353958  

Domestic  

Concentric enclosed hut circle  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument. The monument comprises the remains of an enclosed prehistoric settlement, probably dating to the Iron Age (c.800 BC to AD 74 the Roman Conquest of Wales). Three concentric rings of stone walling stand on ground falling gently to the W. The walls vary in thickness from single boulders set in line to banks c.3m wide with massive dry-stone facing, they survive to a maximum height of 1m. The innermost ring is a hut circle c.9m in diameter, with an entrance on the E side. This is enclosed by a circular enclosure c.24m in diameter. The space between contains the remains of other structures of a less substantial nature. The outer circle of stone walling has a diameter of c.64m and is linked to the middle circle on the E side by a length of stone walling, forming an entrance in line with that of the inner hut. The N part of the site has been bisected by a modern stone wall and the outer enclosure wall lying to the N of this has been removed and ploughed out. The site was excavated in 1947-48. The inner hut circle was found to have two periods of construction, with hearths, storage pits and post-holes for roof supports. The middle enclosure was a farmyard containing traces of other round huts of poor construction; the outer enclosure was probably a corral for animals. The entrance passage through the two outer rings was of elaborate construction, and was c.12m long, c.4.5m wide at the outer end and c.3m at the inner. There were few finds, and none were closely datable, but they included a saddle-quern reused in the house wall and other utilised stones. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric settlement and defence. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.