Ffynnon Mary Burnt Mound 300m SE of Carn Wen

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument comprises a characteristic horseshoe shaped burnt mound, approximately 10.5m N/S by 9m E-W and a maximum of 0.8m high. The site occupies a gentle N-S slope above the existing enclosed fields, at the head of Nant Olwyn to the SE and with spectacular views to the south. The mound is now under turf, probing revealing it to be almost entirely of stone. The central hollow or cooking pit is up to 0.4m deep and backs directly onto a small stream to the E. This springs a few metres to the N, as do several parallel watercourses to the E, accounting for the Ffynnon Mary place name, the whole area being boggy. More angular stone has been exposed in the banks of the stream immediately to the E and SE.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric settlement and domestic practices. The mound is well preserved and forms an element of a broader prehistoric landscape which includes a number of cairns, some scheduled.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and the area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. This forms a circle 30m in diameter.