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Cefn yr Argoed Camp is a prehistoric enclosure located in Wales, situated on bedrock of the South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation. This geology, formed during the Westphalian period, comprises mudstone, siltstone and sandstone interspersed with coal, ironstone and ferricrete—a hard iron-enriched crust that would have been prominent in the local landscape. The ferricrete outcrops common in this region often provided readily accessible stone for construction, making them favourable locations for prehistoric settlement.
The camp itself represents a form of settlement or defended enclosure typical of prehistoric Wales. Such sites were often occupied during the late Bronze Age or Iron Age, when communities constructed banks and ditches to demarcate domestic or ceremonial space, or to offer protection for livestock and inhabitants. The specific topography and geology of Cefn yr Argoed would have determined its suitability and appeal to its ancient users.
The monument is protected by Cadw, the Welsh heritage organisation, under reference GM245. This statutory protection recognises its significance as a record of prehistoric settlement patterns and land use in South Wales, preserving it for future study and public understanding of Wales's ancient past.
Cefn yr Argoed Camp is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM245. View the official record →
Cefn yr Argoed Camp is a prehistoric enclosure located in Wales, situated on bedrock of the South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM245.
Cefn yr Argoed 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.
Cefn yr Argoed 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 GM245.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Margam Medieval Bath House (7.7 km), British Fortified Residence (7.8 km), Mynydd y Castell Camp (7.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cefn yr Argoed 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.
Cefn yr Argoed Camp stands on South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation, bedrock that formed in the Westphalian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, coal, ironstone and ferricrete.