Cwm Henwen standing stone

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument comprises a fine standing stone, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC) and situated within enclosed rough pasture on the E-facing slopes above and to the W of Cwm Henwen, on the flanks of Mynydd Bach Trecastle and with fine views around the whole E arc but particularly down the valley containing the Afon Usk. The standing stone is of an unusual old red sandstone and measures 0.85m in height, 1.2m in thickness from E to W by 0.4m in width. A smaller upright stone (which may be associated) is situated c. 0.8m to the ENE.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric ritual practices. The monument is well preserved and is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The topographic association of the standing stone with several other Bronze Age burial cairns and stone circles (all on the upland ground of Mynydd Bach Trecastle) further enhances the importance of the site.

The area to be scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is circular and measures 12m in diameter.