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Saturday 8 April 2017

More Banc Llwydlos records

Here are some more records from the excellent Dyfed Archaeology Report No 2012/6 by Murphy and Wilson.  I'm very happy to help to publicise this work, since it seems to me to be brief, accurate and mercifully free of unnecessary speculation.

Not all of the features are shown on the map.  But there does seem to be an extraordinary concentration of features here -- it's a very good site for settlement and all sorts of other activities, beneath the steep slope of Banc Llwydlos, dry and sunny, and sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds.  There appears to be a very long settlement history, running from neolithic into Bronze Age and even into the medieval period.







DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST
REPORT NO. 2012/6 PROJECT RECORD NO. 100689
January 2012
SCHEDULING ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 2011: PREHISTORIC SITES FIELDWORK
– PEMBROKESHIRE ADDITIONAL SITES

Fran Murphy & Hubert Wilson

www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/projects/schedulepembroke2011.pdf

PRN 1565 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE UNENCLOSED SETTLEMENT PERIOD Bronze Age? NGR SN09303311 CONDITION Damaged STATUS SAM-PE370 FORM Earthwork

SUMMARY An oval enclosure within which are the remains of several circular huts. To the SW of the enclosure are the remains of a rectangular hut.

LONG DESCRIPTION An oval enclosure c.20m in diameter within which are the remains of several circular huts. To the SW of the enclosure are the remains of a rectangular hut. This unenclosed settlement is located near a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 240m above sea level. The features are visible as low stony banks. Probably prehistoric in origin but difficult to date, although its position close to a stream may indicate a later date - see nearby unenclosed settlement features PRN 14373 & 1579. FM 2011

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PRN 1579 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE ENCLOSURE GROUP PERIOD Medieval/Post Medieval? NGR SN09073339 CONDITION Damaged STATUS FORM Earthwork

SUMMARY Circular enclosure and associated rectangular hut.

LONG DESCRIPTION Visited in April 2011. As previously described. The enclosure is situated on the west bank of a stream on the NE facing slopes of Banc Llwydlos at 230m above sea level. See OS card for detailed description. FM May 2011
Bracken has infested the area. There are hints of stone wall bases, but it was difficult to assess the true form and extent of the feature. Its streamside location, on a dry terrace, suggests that a long hut or fold may well be placed here. There was also noted, the line of a sub-circular boundary bank or wall, defined simply by a line of small boulders, enclosing an area c.15m in diameter or 15m by 15m. Its precise form is uncertain. . RPS October 2002
Possibly a denuded long hut site. RPS August 2001.

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PRN 100699 TYPE HUT CIRCLE? NGR SN08703299 CONDITION Unknown
Scheduling Enhancement Project 2011: Prehistoric Fieldwork– Pembrokeshire Additional Sites
NAME BANC LLWYDLOS PERIOD Unknown

STATUS FORM Unknown SUMMARY A feature identified as a 'circular stone hut’ by P Drewett during field survey in 1984.

LONG DESCRIPTION A feature identified as a ‘circular stone hut' (site no 105) by P Drewett during field survey in 1984. There is no drawing of the feature in the report. This site was not located during a site visit in 2011. FM & HW April 2011

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PRN 100700NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE CHAMBERED TOMB PERIOD Prehistoric NGR SN0875133233 CONDITION Damaged STATUS FORM Earthwork

SUMMARY A sub-rectangular shaped arrangement of stones set on edge and protruding through a similarly shaped low earthen mound. Possible the remains of a former prehistoric 'passage grave' or 'chambered tomb', it is situated to the east of a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos.

LONG DESCRIPTION A sub-rectangular shaped arrangement of stones protruding through a similarly shaped low earthen mound. It is situated to the east of a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 260m above sea level. The stone setting is aligned roughly N-S and is widest at its southern end where the stones appear to form a 'chamber' up to which a narrow linear 'passage' runs from the north, where there would appear to be an entrance. The feature is 14.2m long and measures 3.6m at its widest southern end and 2.4m at its northern end. It is very similar in construction to Beddyrafanc chambered tomb that lies just over 2.5km to the NE (PRN 1032). The site was first recorded by P Drewett in 1984 as a ‘multiple stone setting – passage grave’ (site no 106). FM & HW April 2011

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PRN 100701 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE STANDING STONE PERIOD Prehistoric NGR SN087763323 CONDITION Damaged STATUS FORM Stone slab

SUMMARY A possible standing stone recorded by P Drewett in 1984.

LONG DESCRIPTION A possible standing stone recorded by P Drewett in 1984. It is situated to the north of the 'passage grave' PRN 100700, and lies east of a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 260m above sea level.

A site visit to the area was undertaken in April 2011. It was difficult to pinpoint which stone, in an area of many scattered stones and boulders, could qualify as this standing stone. However, the most likely would appear to be a stone located at SN08773323, to the north of the 'passage grave' PRN 100700. The stone appears to be placed at the eastern end of a vague earthen linear bank that fades into the gorse to the west. The stone is approximately 0.5m high. This site was first recorded by P Drewett in 1984 as a ‘standing stone’ (site no 107). FM & HW April 2011

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PRN 100702 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE ENCLOSURE PERIOD Prehistoric NGR SN08813321 CONDITION Damaged STATUS FORM Stone built structure

SUMMARY A small sub-circular enclosure situated east of a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 260m above sea level, defined by a number of very large stone blocks, some of which are set within an earthen bank.

LONG DESCRIPTION A small sub-circular enclosure situated east of a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 260m above sea level. The site lies c.500m east of the possible 'passage grave' PRN 100700
The enclosure measuring approximately 7.5m N-S and 6.5m E-W. It is of unusual construction, being made of very large stone blocks, some of which are set within an earthen bank. Incorporated within the eastern side of the circle is a large stone slab lying in a horizontal position, that has been levelled by balancing it on several smaller stones below it. The stone slab is 2.6m long and 2.0m wide at its widest point. There is a possibility of an entrance on the western side. This site had not been recorded before this visit and was not included in P Drewetts 1984 report on his Mynydd Preseli fieldwork. April 2011

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PRN 100703 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE STANDING STONE PERIOD Prehistoric NGR SN08723322 CONDITION Damaged STATUS FORM Stone slab
FM & HW

SUMMARY A possible 'megalith' recorded by P Drewett in 1984. It is situated to the south of the possible 'passage grave' PRN 100700.

LONG DESCRIPTION A possible 'megalith' (site no 124) recorded by P Drewett in 1984. It is situated to the south of the possible 'passage grave' PRN 100700, and lies east of a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 260m above sea level.
A site visit to the area was undertaken in April 2011. It was difficult to pinpoint which stone, in an area of many scattered stones and boulders, could qualify as this 'megalith'. However, the most likely would appear to be a large stone boulder located at SN08723322, to the south of the 'passage grave' PRN 100700. The stone boulder is approximately 0.7m wide and 0.7m high, and has a depth N-S of 0.55m. FM & HW April 2011

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PRN 100704 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE CIRCULAR ENCLOSURE PERIOD Prehistoric? NGR SN08733323 CONDITION Damaged STATUS FORM Earthwork

SUMMARY A possible small circular enclosure visible as a low earthwork.

LONG DESCRIPTION A possible small enclosure visible as a low circular earthen bank with some large stones on the north side of the curve. It is approximately 6.0m in diameter. It is situated east of a stream on a gentle NE facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 260m above sea level.
FM & HW April 2011

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PRN 100705 NAME BANC LLWYDLOS TYPE SHEEP FOLD PERIOD Medieval NGR SN09513302 CONDITION Damaged STATUS FORM Stone structure

SUMMARY A possible sheepfold situated on a northwest facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 250m above sea level, lying to the east of a stream.

LONG DESCRIPTION A possible sheepfold situated on a northwest facing slope of Banc Llwydlos at 250m above sea level, lying to the east of a stream. It is sub-circular in shape and of dry stone construction whose walls survive to between 4/5 courses high. The enclosure has an approximate diameter of 8.9m. There is an entrance on the west (facing the stream) measuring 1.2m wide. It is possibly a later re-use of an earlier structure. It was recorded by P Drewett in 1984 during field survey and listed as ‘hut cluster (circular stone huts)’ (site no 109).
Depicted as 'sheepfold' on OS County series Pembroke. XI.9 1889 & as 'old sheepfold' on 2nd edition (1907).

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PRN 100708 TYPE HUT CIRCLE NGR SN10293297 CONDITION Unknown
NAME BANC LLWYDLOS PERIOD Prehistoric?

STATUS FORM Unknown SUMMARY A 'circular stone hut' identified by P Drewett during field survey in
1984.

LONG DESCRIPTION A 'circular stone hut' (site no 117) identified by P Drewett during field survey in 1984.No more information is listed in Drewett’s 1984 report. Not located during fieldwork in 2011. The grid reference has been estimated from the sketch map contained within the report. FM & HW April 2011

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