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Cae Summerhouse Camp is a prehistoric enclosure situated on bedrock of Dinantian limestone, sandstone and argillaceous rocks that underlie this part of Wales. The underlying geology, formed during the Mississippian period, comprises a mixture of calcareous and clastic materials typical of the South Wales coalfield region. This solid foundation would have provided a relatively stable base for occupation, though the surrounding landscape of limestone country would have presented both opportunities and constraints for settlement and subsistence activities during prehistoric times.
The enclosure itself represents a form of defended settlement common to the prehistoric period, though its precise date and function remain subjects of archaeological interest. The site's location on Dinantian bedrock places it within a landscape of karst features and limestone outcrops that characterised prehistoric settlement patterns across South Wales. Such topographically prominent locations often provided natural advantages for defence and visibility across the surrounding terrain.
The monument is protected by Cadw, the Welsh heritage agency, under reference GM102, ensuring its preservation for future study and public access. Its survival allows insights into prehistoric settlement strategies and land use in a distinctive geological setting. The site contributes to understanding how communities adapted to and exploited the limestone uplands and valleys of medieval and prehistoric Wales.
Cae Summerhouse Camp is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM102. View the official record →
Cae Summerhouse Camp is a prehistoric enclosure situated on bedrock of Dinantian limestone, sandstone and argillaceous rocks that underlie this part of Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM102.
Cae Summerhouse Camp dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a enclosure. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cae Summerhouse Camp 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 GM102.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Heol y Mynydd Round Barrow (3.5 km), Croes Antoni (4 km), St Bride's Major Churchyard Cross (4.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cae Summerhouse Camp'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.
Cae Summerhouse Camp stands on Dinantian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Mississippian. The rock here is limestone with subordinate sandstone and argillaceous rocks.