Ancient huts and circles: Carn Goedog - Hafod Tydfil area

These are the hut circles, ring cairns and other enigmatic embanked enclosures that can be traced in the landscape around Carn Goedog and Hafod Tydfil on the northern flank of Mynydd Preseli.  This "group" of features is listed separately from the features clustered around Carn Alw, a kilometre or so to the east.  In reality there is no reason to think there are any cultural or tribal differences between the two areas -- this is a matter of convenience from the point of view of those doing the listing......
Thanks for Geo for reminding us about these listings. The full doc is easy to find on the web, and can be downloaded for free as a PDF.


PRN 11506
NAME CARNGOEDOG II TYPE HUT CIRCLE SETTLEMENT PERIOD Bronze Age NGR SN1283133283 CONDITION Damaged STATUS CL , NPP FORM Complex
SUMMARY A group of hut circles situated at the base of the steep, north facing slope of Carn Goedog
LONG DESCRIPTION A group of hut circles situated at the base of the steep, north facing slope of Carn Goedog at 240m above sea level. There are at least 6 hut circles, in a linear spread roughly aligned E-W along the base of the slope. The hut circles are defined by sub circular stone and earth banks with hollowed interiors. The diameter of the hut circles varies from 3.0m to 5.5m and the banks have an average height of 0.5m. Two hut circles appear to be built on platforms terraced into the hillside. There are faint traces of linear earthen banks in close vicinity to the hut circle group but no clear pattern is discernable. Two of the hut circles are conjoined. FM & RR May 2009
Group of round huts and ancillary features on Preselis. RPS August 2001


PRN 11509
NAME CARNGOEDOG IV TYPE ENCLOSURE PERIOD Prehistoric NGR SN12033307 CONDITION Damaged STATUS CL , NPP FORM Stone built feature
SUMMARY A roughly square enclosure situated on the northeast slopes of Mynydd Bach.
LONG DESCRIPTION A roughly square enclosure situated on the northeast slopes of Mynydd Bach at 250m above sea level. The enclosure measures c.25m square and is defined by a low earthen bank c.30m high and 1.0m wide. The bank is composed of large and medium stones protruding through the turf. The SW corner is oddly shaped with a 5m long indentation in the banks outline. Drewett's 1983 plan is a good representation of the enclosure on the ground. FM & RR May 2009
Rectilinear enclosure. RPS August 2001


PRN 9944
NAME CARN GOEDOG TYPE ENCLOSED SETTLEMENT, RING BARROW PERIOD Iron Age, Romano- British, Bronze Age NGR SN1262333780 CONDITION Damaged STATUS CL , NPP FORM Earthwork
SUMMARY A large, well-preserved circular enclosure situated on the gentle north facing slopes of Carn Goedog. It lies within a complex of fields and other features (PRN 8403).
LONG DESCRIPTION A large, well-preserved circular enclosure situated on the gentle north facing slopes of Carn Goedog at 195m above sea level. It lies within a complex of fields and other features (PRN 8403).The site consists of a circular enclosure, c.35m in diameter, defined by an earth and stone bank c.4.0m wide and 0.5m high. The interior is somewhat sunken and is nearly covered with reed growth. In the SE quadrant of the interior is a spread of stone that appears to have some form - perhaps circular - possibly an indication of a former hut circle? Unfortunately the reed growth within the enclosure obscures any other evidence of internal features. A site visit durIng 2003 for the PFRS project concluded that this site was not a ring barrow as had previously been suggested and did not fall into any known category of prehistoric funerary and/or ritual monument. FM & RR May 2009


PRN 8403
NAME CARN GOEDOG TYPE UNENCLOSED SETTLEMENT PERIOD Iron Age, Roman NGR SN12693374 CONDITION Damaged STATUS NPP , CL FORM Earthwork
SUMMARY A complex of features including rectilinear fields, hut circles and a well-preserved circular enclosure, situated on the gentle north facing slopes of Carn Goedog.
LONG DESCRIPTION A complex of features including rectilinear fields, hut circles and a well preserved circular enclosure (PRN 9944), situated on the gentle north facing slopes of Carn Goedog at 200m above sea level. It is difficult to assign a date to this group of features that show characteristics of the prehistoric through to the early medieval period. FM & RR May 2009


PRN 11511
NAME CARNGOEDOG VI TYPE HUT CIRCLE SETTLEMENT, SHOOTING HIDES PERIOD Prehistoric, Post Medieval NGR SN12153398 CONDITION Damaged STATUS CL , NPP FORM Earthwork
SUMMARY A group of small circular earthworks spread along the banks of three closely spaced north flowing streams on the gentle north facing slopes below Carn Goedog.
LONG DESCRIPTION A group of numerous small circular earthworks spread along the banks of three closely spaced north flowing streams on the gentle north facing slopes below Carn Goedog at 170m above sea level. These small circular earthworks have an average diameter of 5.0m. The majority are low, sub circular, stony earthworks or mounds with hollowed interiors. The average height of any bank is 0.5m and width 0.7m. One enclosure at SN12193399 is very different in appearance- the drystone walls stand to c.1.0m high and are visible internally to several courses high. It is again c.5.0m in diameter with an entrance on the E, and there appears to be evidence of a small sub circular lobate enclosure on the S. The date and purpose of this group is unclear but must be related to their close proximity to the three streams. FM & RR June 2009 Group of between 15 and 20 sub-circular structures. RPS August 2001


PRN 13243
NAME MYNYDD BACH TYPE ENCLOSURE, RING BARROW PERIOD Iron Age; Medieval, Bronze Age NGR SN1182733294 CONDITION Damaged STATUS CL , NPP FORM Earthwork
SUMMARY A roughly circular enclosure situated on the lower north facing slopes of Mynydd Bach.
LONG DESCRIPTION A roughly circular enclosure situated on the lower north facing slopes of Mynydd Bach at 240m above sea level. The enclosure measures c.18m in diameter and is defined by a spread, stony earthen bank c.2.0m wide. Internally there is evidence of possible hut platforms in the SW and NW quadrants. Possibly associated with the evidence for a field system in this area (PRN 13245). The enclosure is too large to be considered a hut circle. FM & RR June 2009
A roughly circular, grass covered bank circa 2m wide and 18m in diameter. It is much eroded and therefore not continuous. The interior is sunken and there is no ditch apparent, inside or out. There is evidence for some stone protruding, especially on the north west bank side. Despite being once recorded as a possible ring barrow, it is more likely that this site is some kind of enclosure or hut circle. RR 2004


PRN 13244
NAME MYNYDD BACH TYPE ENCLOSURE PERIOD Medieval NGR SN1189633254 CONDITION Damaged STATUS CL , NPP FORM Building
SUMMARY Originally identified from an aerial photograph this is a sub rectangular enclosure situated on the lower north facing slopes of Mynydd Bach. It is associated with long hut PRN 96867.
LONG DESCRIPTION Originally identified from an aerial photograph this is a sub rectangular enclosure situated on the lower north facing slopes of Mynydd Bach at 240m above sea level. In 2009 the site was discovered to be an enclosure measuring c.18m E-W by c.16m N-S, defined by the remnant of an earth and stone bank that is not continuous. The ground appears to have been built up on the north to form a level platform on which to construct the enclosure. There is no obvious entrance through the bank. Within the enclosure in the SW corner is evidence of small circular feature, diameter c.3.0m, visible as a number of medium stones protruding through the turf. Outside the enclosure on the east, a few metres away, is a rectangular 2-celled long hut (PRN 96867) and just outside of the enclosure on the south is a vague oval earthen mound. FM & RR June 2009


PRN 96867
NAME MYNYDD BACH TYPE LONG HUT PERIOD Medieval NGR SN1191333241 CONDITION Damaged STATUS None recorded NPP , CL FORM Earthwork
SUMMARY A rectangular 2-celled long hut situated on the lower north facing slopes of Mynydd Bach. It lies close to enclosure PRN 13244.
LONG DESCRIPTION This rectangular 2-celled ‘long hut’ lies just to the east of enclosure PRN 13244 with which it is obviously associated. Both features are situated on the lower north facing slopes of Mynydd Bach at 240m above sea level. In 2009 the site was recorded as measuring approximately 8.0m E-W by 5.0m N-S. Dense reeds growing across the area heavily obscured the site but it appeared to be a 2-celled building of drystone construction. The walls are now visible as a low spread of stone protruding through the turf, but the internal partition wall was still clear. FM & RR June 2009