Scheduled MonumentsWalesGelly Earthwork
Prehistoric · Rath

Gelly Earthwork

Pembrokeshire, Wales
Cadw SAM PE184
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Rath
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Gelly Earthwork is a prehistoric rath located in Pembrokeshire, Wales, dating to the Iron Age period. The site comprises a defensive enclosure formed by an earthen bank and ditch, typical of the rath fortification type found across Wales and Ireland during the later prehistoric period. The earthwork demonstrates the settlement and defensive strategies employed by Iron Age communities in south-west Wales, representing a significant archaeological resource for understanding the regional prehistoric settlement hierarchy. As a scheduled ancient monument under Cadw's protection, the site retains important archaeological potential for future investigation and contributes to the broader understanding of prehistoric land use and social organisation in Pembrokeshire.

Gelly Earthwork is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference PE184. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Gelly Earthwork?

Gelly Earthwork is a prehistoric rath located in Pembrokeshire, Wales, dating to the Iron Age period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference PE184.

What period does Gelly Earthwork date from?

Gelly Earthwork dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a rath. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Gelly Earthwork?

Gelly Earthwork 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 PE184.

What other scheduled monuments are near Gelly Earthwork?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Castell Coch (6.1 km), Minwear Ringwork (6.5 km), Newton North Church (6.5 km).

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