Wenallt Camp

Iron Age Defended Enclosures

The site consists of the remains of a defended enclosure, likely dating back to the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC – AD 74). It is situated on the southern end of a spur overlooking Cardiff, with a gentle slope facing south and old quarry workings to the north. The enclosure is roughly oval in shape and is defined by a single banked structure. The site is within the territory of the Silures.

On the west side, there is a steep slope immediately below the bank, which has an external height of approximately 2m and negligible internal height. Moving towards the northwest side, the bank maintains the same external height, but has an internal height of around 1m with a gentle slope. There is a small external ditch and bank, with the ditch being 2m wide and 0.5m deep, accompanied by a slight bank outside it. A footpath crosses the bank at this point, causing some erosion.

On the north side, the bank has an internal height of 2.2m and an external height of 1.8m, with fairly steep sides. There are some large stones visible on the external side of the bank, and the ditch here is 2m wide, cut into the stone and about 1.5m deep, adjacent to the quarry area.

On the east side, the ground is level outside the enclosure and then drops. The bank has an external height of 2m at the northern end, decreasing to 1m towards the south. The internal height varies from approximately 0.5m to 1m, and no external ditch is visible on this side. Similarly, on the south side, there is level ground before it drops, and the bank has an external height of 1m and an internal height of 0m to 0.5m. The interior slopes gently towards the south with no visible internal features.

The monument is of national importance due to its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric defensive organization and settlement. It is an important element within the broader context of later prehistoric sites in the surrounding landscape. The site is well-preserved and retains significant archaeological potential, including evidence related to chronology, building techniques, and functional details.

Sites near Wenallt Camp