A roughly D-shaped earthwork enclosure (bank with internal ditch) situated on gently sloping ground, enclosing an area of 850 sq. metres, with the northern tributary of Nant Criafolen defining its straight side. An entrance is situated in the west side of the enclosure and to the north of this the enclosure ditch has been widened out into a possible pond. A hut 8.4m x 4.4m is situated against the northern side of the enclosure. Excavation revealed that the house foundation had been constructed by laying walls of gritstone boulders, shale slabs and soil directly onto turf. A 2m wide entrance was set in the middle of the south wall and evidence suggests that the interior of the hut may have been divided, into a large room at the west end with a central stone-built hearth and a smaller room with a curving gulley to the east.

Surrounding the hut was a system of drains to keep the water away and a large midden was conveniently placed a stone throw from the doorway of the hut. Ash and pottery from the midden provided good dating evidence, indicating occupation here in the 15th or 16th century.

Louise Barker, RCAHMW, September 2009

Sources
Allen, D 1979 Excavations at Hafod y Nant Criafolen, Brenig Valley, Clwyd 1973-74. Post Medieval Archaeology 13
Lynch, F 1993 Excavations in the Brenig Valley. A Mesolithic and Bronze Age Landscape in North Wales. Cambrian Archaeological Monograph No. 5.