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Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke is a medieval linear earthwork in Wales, constructed across terrain underlain by Caradoc Rocks of the Caradocian period. The bedrock comprises mudstone, siltstone and sandstone, which would have presented considerable challenge to the builders who constructed this defensive or territorial boundary feature. Like other dykes of its period, the work represents investment in landscape control, exploiting the natural topography whilst cutting through challenging geology. The monument is protected by Cadw, the Welsh heritage authority, under reference MG077, recognising its significance as evidence of medieval land use and settlement patterns. The dyke's routing across these varied sedimentary strata demonstrates how medieval engineers adapted their construction methods to local geological conditions, creating a feature that has survived to inform our understanding of the period's territorial organisation and defensive strategies in Wales.
Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MG077. View the official record →
Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke is a medieval linear earthwork in Wales, constructed across terrain underlain by Caradoc Rocks of the Caradocian period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference MG077.
Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a linear earthwork. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is MG077.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Clawdd Wood round barrow (5.7 km), Clawdd Wood Camp (5.8 km), Bwlch Aeddan Dyke (6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Bwlch-y-Cibau Dyke stands on Caradoc Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.