CN202

Parc Gelli Hut Group and Ancient Fields  

20/06/1979  

Designated  

Gwynedd  

Llandygai  

260103  

368380  

Domestic  

Unenclosed hut circle  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument. The monument comprises the remains of two groups of hut circles and enclosures that probably date to the Iron Age or Romano-British period (c. 800 BC - AD 400). The settlement is terraced into a north-facing slope and is divided into two parts by a field wall. It is surrounded by a system of stone-built enclosures and terraced fields. The western part of the settlement contains, on the upper part of the slope, a row of four round huts; a well-preserved hut c. 5.75m in diameter with an entrance on the north; a round hut 6.5m in diameter internally, terraced into the hillside; the probable site of a round hut which appears as a semi-circular platform scooped out of the hill-slope to a depth of 1m and a round hut 4m in diameter internally, dug into the hillside. Below these is a rectangular structure, 14m x 9m, with a possible round hut, 8m in diameter, alongside. Immediately below is another rectangular structure terraced into the hillside, approximately 12m x 8m internally. To the east is a large round hut approximately 12m in diameter with walls of 0.5m - 0.75m in height and an entrance to the south. It is situated on top of the main scarp forming the north boundary of the settlement. A rough wall of piled boulders running north-south appears to divide this part of the settlement from that further east. The eastern part of the settlement contains four round huts, which are approached from the east by a 2m wide trackway, the east end of which appears to be linked to field walls running north and south. This part of the settlement contains: a large hut on the edge of the scarp 8m in diameter internally with an entrance on the east; an oval structure 7m x 6m, dug into the hillside to a depth of 1.25m and lying on the south side of the track, but some 1.5m above it; a circular structure of 4.5m diameter internally, formed out of huge boulders; an oval structure 4m x 3m on the edge of the scarp, the south side consisting of large boulders. The hut group was not a defensive site, the significant views would have been medium and short over the fields farmed from the settlement, the majority of which would probably have been on the lower land to the north. It should be noted that while long views northward to Anglesey are available these were probably not a major factor in the location of the site. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric domestic construction practices. The monument retains significant archaeological potential and there is a strong probability that structural evidence has survived, together with internal and external floor surfaces. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.