Since Dave mentioned these very spectacular stone walls, this might be of interest. Out on the common, just south of the Carn Ffoi defended settlement. There is, as far as I know, nothing like this anywhere else in west Wales. The "funnels" must have something to do with stock management, but when, and how, is a mystery to me. I wonder if these features have a technical name?
It may be that these are guide walls used in conjunction with the gathering of the local sheep flock, but there is no attached sheepfold. Maybe the two rectangular enclosures to the NE were used as sheepfolds? But they are detached from the long walls.
Another possibility is that the enclosures across the road, to the west, were used for gathering and sorting the sheep.
Then there is the matter of that strange enclosure close to Pont Ceunant (bottom left on the image above), with several paddocks and some very strange patterns -- but no obvious remains of a house. Perhaps that had something to do with sheep management too?
4 comments:
Similar to banjo - shaped enclosures? Dave will be able to tell us.
David Field talks about the banjo - shaped enclosure of the Iron Age on Salisbury Plain and elsewhere in Wessex. One on the Plain was discussed in an old "Time Team" with Phil Harding.
I had not thought of that interpretation, I'd have given it a shelterbelt tree plantation laid out in the nineteenth century. In fact, looking at the tithe map, many of these fields are not shown. Either they were earlier and fell out of use, or were laid out later. They all seem to be rather 'fresh' stone and earth banks.
The enclosure I was referring to are the inconspicuous lines of stone that are probably prehistoric in date. One runs directly south from Carn Ffoi. I suspect they originally covered the whole of Newport Common, but are removed in the areas where the more recent boundaries lie. Most are hidden under bracken. This is a target area for me to get to this winter.
I have to say to my shame, that I've never made it to Carn Ingli! Perhaps too many distractions in the foothills.
Dave
Yes, there are many banjo type enclosures in the area, mostly cropmark sites. One example is CRUGIAU CEMMAES BANJO ENCLOSURE NPRN: 410167 where images can be seen on the Coflein site.
They are also common across Wessex.
Dave
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