Mynydd Pen-y-fal round cairns

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of two burial cairns, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC) and situated in open moorland on the W-facing slopes of Mynydd Pen-y-fal. The easternmost cairn is roughly circular on plan and measures about 7m in diameter and up to 0.5m in height. There is a small central hollow visible upon the summit of the cairn. The westernmost cairn is situated downslope of the first. It is roughly circular on plan and measures about 8.5m in diameter and up to 0.5m in height. A fine stone built cist is visible within the centre of the cairn. This well-preserved cist measures 1.35m from NE to SW by 0.6m transversely and about 0.5m in depth. Both the central hollow of the easternmost cairn and the exposed cist of the westernmost cairn presumably indicate antiquarian investigation or robbing, although both cairns remain substantially intact.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The monument is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of both intact burial or ritual deposits and environmental and structural evidence.

The scheduled areas comprise the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Area A is centred upon Item A (the easternmost cairn, SO 260 189); it is circular and measures 22m in diameter. Area B is centred upon Item B (the westernmost cairn, SO 258 189); it is circular and measures 22m in diameter.