GM102

Cae Summerhouse Camp  

 

Designated  

Bridgend  

Merthyr Mawr  

286404  

177993  

Domestic  

Enclosure  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument comprises the remains of an earthwork enclosure. The date or precise nature of the enclosure is unknown, but it is likely to be later prehistoric. The monument is situated on a low hilltop just north of the Warren area of sand dunes. It consists of a number of low banks half enclosing a rectangular area and an outlying curving bank on the north side. This outer bank is 4m wide and 0.6m high and runs parallel to the inner bank, running north-west / south-east, and on its north-west end it curves round to meet the inner bank. The inner bank is 2m high at its heighest (on the north-east) on the outside, decreasing to 1m high at its north-west end. It has an interior height of 0.7m. Outside it is a ditch 4m wide and 0.2m deep with a causeway across it 9m wide and 0.7m high near the south-east end. This bank continues around a rectangular area, enclosing all but the south-west side. The height varies from 0.3m to 0.8m. Further north-west another bank extends south-west, 3m wide and 0.3m high. 25m to the south is a 22m long sharp drop of 1m and beyond this is a quarry area. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organisation and settlement. The site forms an important element within the wider later prehistoric context and within the surrounding landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive."