Scheduled MonumentsWalesPen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure
Prehistoric · Promontory Fort - inland

Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure

Ceredigion, Wales
Cadw SAM CD261
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Promontory Fort - inland
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure is a prehistoric promontory fort located in Ceredigion, Wales, positioned to exploit natural topography for defensive purposes. The site is defined by substantial earthwork defences comprising banks and ditches that cut across a natural promontory, creating a defended enclosure typical of Iron Age settlement patterns in Wales. The monument dates to the Iron Age period, reflecting the strategic importance of elevated inland locations for communal defence and control of surrounding territory. Such promontory forts served as focal points for social organisation, storage and protection of resources, and remain significant evidence of prehistoric settlement hierarchies and land use in the region.

Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CD261. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure?

Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure is a prehistoric promontory fort located in Ceredigion, Wales, positioned to exploit natural topography for defensive purposes. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CD261.

What period does Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure date from?

Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a promontory fort - inland. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure?

Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure 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 CD261.

What other scheduled monuments are near Pen-y-Gaer Defended Enclosure?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pen Clawdd-Mawr Defended Enclosure (3.7 km), Llan-Llyr Inscribed Stone (4.2 km), Castell Cwmere (5.9 km).

Aubrey Research

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