Carn Saith-Wraig Round Cairns

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of two upland cairns in open moorland pasture, which probably date to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). The NW cairn (Item 'A') is located on a shelf in a secluded position to the SW of a broad ridge. It comprises a ring cairn of earth and stone. The bank measures 4m in width and 0.4m in height, with an overall diameter of c. 21.5m. Within the ring, is a tumbled mass of loose stone, which may represent the ruined remains of a round cairn. Item 'B' is located c. 120m to the SE and comprises a round cairn located upon a low ridge. The cairn measures c. 13.5m in diameter and a maximum of 1m in height.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The feature is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retains significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of both intact ritual and burial deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by the cairns' group value.

The scheduled areas comprise the remains described and areas around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. The scheduled areas are circular in shape. Area 'A' is centred on Item 'A' and measures 25m in diameter. Area 'B' is centred on Item 'B' and measures 20m in diameter.