Banc Llwydlos settlement site

As mentioned in my last post, there is something interesting at Banc Llwydlos, around grid ref SN08957 32973.  The description is found in the Dyfed Archaeology 2010 Report:

http://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/projects/schedulepembroke2010.pdf

DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST
REPORT NO. 2009/63 PROJECT RECORD NO. 96851
Mawrth 2010 March 2010
SCHEDULING ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 2010: PREHISTORIC SITES FIELDWORK – PEMBROKESHIRE
By F. Murphy, M. Page, R. Ramsey and H. Wilson

and also in the 2013 Report mentioned previously.

Archwilio record:

https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archsearch/record.xhtml

Description: 
PRN 14373 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE UNENCLOSED SETTLEMENT PERIOD Prehistoric NGR SN08973303 CONDITION Damaged STATUS NPP FORM Earthwork complex

SUMMARY A settlement complex including at least seven hut circles surrounding a square enclosure and yard, situated on the northeast facing slope of Banc Llwydlos.

LONG DESCRIPTION A settlement complex including at least seven hut circles surrounding a square enclosure and yard, situated on the northeast facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 270m above sea level. Indentified from aerial photography in 1990, 2009 saw the first site visit and this recorded a settlement complex of possible prehistoric date. The complex includes seven hut circles that are spread around a small square shaped enclosure. The square enclosure measures approximately 6.0m E-W by 5.0m and has an entrance on the north. The entrance leads out to a small 'yard' area that has an opening on the east into a larger rectangular 'yard' area measuring 18m E-W by c.6.0m. These yards appear to have been constructed on a platform to create a level area on the sloping ground, and much of the settlement has the appearance of being somewhat terraced into the hill slope. The hut circles vary from 5.5m to 3.5m in diameter. All the features are defined by low, spread, stony earthen banks that have an average height of 0.3m and an average width of 1.3m. All the banks are grass covered and many have large stones protruding through the turf.

Here is the sketch plan prepared by  Peter Drewett on one of his site visits around 1985-87.  It should be numbered 14373.

I'll update this plan soon with the benefit of modern satellite imagery.  I think this site is of great importance -- although possibly not unique, since there are also settlement traces on a similar scale around Carn Goedog,  Carn Alw and Craig Talfynydd.  Were there a number of distinct Neolithic /Bronze Age tribal territories on this north flank of Mynydd Preseli?  Time will tell.....

We know that there are cromlechs and passage graves around the place.  They are Neolithic.  Somebody built them, and they must have lived somewhere nearby.....