Bonw Burial Mound

Summary description and reason for designation

The monument comprises the well-preserved remains of an earth-built burial mound, which probably dates to the Early Medieval period (c.850-1000 AD). Monuments of this type and date are very rare across Britain and there are no comparable sites currently known on Anglesey or across the wider region.

The monument is located c.1km south of Mynydd y Garn and c.200m southeast of Bonw, Rhydwyn, Holyhead. The burial mound is situated on the southwest end of a distinct, low-lying ridge beneath Mynydd y Garn that provides views to the west towards Porth Swtan and the Irish Sea. A peat-rich wetland lies immediately to the northeast of the site.

The burial mound is circular in shape and is c.15m in diameter, comprising a low mound surrounded by a ditch which is clearly visible on modern aerial photography. Mounds of this type and date will most likely contain a single, centrally located inhumation, though multiple burials are possible. There is no evidence of disturbance at the site and any in situ remains are likely to be well preserved.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Early Medieval life on Anglesey and contemporary burial and ritual practices across the wider region. The monument is an important relic of an Early Medieval funerary and ritual landscape and retains significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of both intact ritual and burial deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. Burial mounds form part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can be further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. The Scheduled Area is circular, centred on NGR 231535, 389985 and is 25m in diameter.