Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Cairns on Pen Plynlimon-Arwystli
Blaenrheidol, Powys, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Round Cairn
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Community
- Blaenrheidol
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.47508, -3.74575
- SAM number
- CD035
- Cadw record number
- 1841
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
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1608 "(13) Cambriae Typus." (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 three burial cairns, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). The southernmost cairn is c.18m in diameter, c.62m in circumference and c.2m high, with a depression in the top. The central cairn, which lies c.20m to its north-east, is c.22m in diameter, c.70m in circumference and c.1.5m high. It is intact and has been used as beacon. The north-eastern cairn lies c.35m further to the north-east, is c.20m in diameter with an outer ring of loose stones around a turf-covered interior. The centre is of stone and has a large shelter constructed within it. The cairn stands 0.5 to 1.5m above its surroundings.
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, together with environmental and structural evidence. Cairns may be 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.
Nearby in the register
- Nant yr Eira Prehistoric Copper Mines & 19th Century Lead MineLead Mineunder 1 mi
- Carreg Wen Prehistoric Standing StoneStanding Stoneunder 1 mi
- Cairn on Pen Lluest-y-CarnRound Cairn1 mi
- North Cairn on Pen Plynlimon-FawrRound Cairn2 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.