GM600

Cefn Cil-sanws defended enclosure  

09/03/2009  

Designated  

Merthyr Tydfil  

Vaynor  

302793  

209932  

Defence  

Enclosure - Defensive  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument comprises the remains of a small defended enclosure, probably dating to the Iron Age (c. 800 BC - 74 AD, the Roman conquest of Wales) or Romano-British period (ending c. late 4th century AD) and is situated on a central knoll within the sheltered east-facing slopes of Cefn Cil-sanws, a ridge on the south side of the Brecon Beacons that overlooks Cwm Taf. The site comprises the remains of a small subrectangular embanked enclosure, probably representing the core of a small farmstead; areas of the surrounding landscape have seen clearance, with several small clearance cairns visible. The enclosure measures about 80m from north-north-west to south-south-east by up to about 60m transversely over spread rubble banks c. 5m in thickness and 0.5m in height (these banks may represent fallen walls). The entrance to the enclosure is difficult to define - it may be at the north-east corner, where a break in the bank is accompanied by what may be a terraced path, but this area has been disturbed by later quarrying and stone robbing (the east side of the enclosure has been robbed away). The breaks in the north side and south side are both likely to be more recent. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Iron Age or Romano-British rural settlement and social organisation. The monument forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information in regard to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. The area scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.