Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Bryn Llechwen ring cairn
Ystradgynlais, Powys, Wales
A scheduled monument in Ystradgynlais, Powys, recorded as Ring Cairn (Prehistoric).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Ring Cairn
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 31 May 2006
- Community
- Ystradgynlais
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.77918, -3.71873
- SAM number
- BR327
- Cadw record number
- 4241
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 231 Merthyr Tydfil (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument comprises the remains of a ring cairn, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC) and situated within enclosed rough pasture on the ENE end of a prominent plateau. The well-preserved ring cairn is circular on plan and measures about 9m in diameter within a grass-covered stony ring bank about 4m in thickness and up to 0.2m in height. A slight hollow is visible within the interior and is presumably the result of antiquarian investigation or robbing. However, the ring cairn remains largely undisturbed and is situated in a classic location, with wide views all around. It is also tilted slightly towards the NE.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. Excavated examples have shown these monuments to be essentially ceremonial - although with a consistent link with the burial of the dead (some cremation burials have been revealed). Rituals involving the burning and deposition of charcoal, perhaps symbolic of the funeral pyre, would seem to have been important. The well preserved monument is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape. It 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 area comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is circular and measures 26m in diameter.
Nearby in the register
- Tramroad at YstradgynlaisTramroadunder 1 mi
- The War MemorialCommemorativeunder 1 mi
- Circular pigsty at Blaendulais FarmAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Ynysgedwyn Colliery, Fan HouseFan Houseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.