Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Yr Eifl Summit Cairns
Pistyll, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Round Cairn
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Community
- Pistyll
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.97496, -4.43671
- SAM number
- CN076
- Cadw record number
- 3166
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
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 burial cairns, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC), in a spectacular setting on the summit of Yr Eifl at approximately 564m OD.
The cairn on the actual summit, formed of large stones, is very large and impressive. It is c.7m high and has an Ordnance Survey trig. pillar built on it. The smaller cairn, which lies 25m to the SW, has been more or less levelled, although it is still quite clear where it was. It consists of a pile of loose stone c.11m in diameter and 0.7m high with concentric rings of small upright stones holding the body of the cairn in place. A small modern cairn has been built on top.
Both cairns are being constantly disturbed by visitors as they create hollows and small cairns from the loose stone.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric funerary and ritual practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Tre'r Ceiri CampHillfortunder 1 mi
- Yr Eifl, cairn on NW summit ofRound Cairnunder 1 mi
- Hut Circles and Enclosure NW of Mount PleasantHut Circle Settlementunder 1 mi
- Capel Seilo, with forecourt wallsReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.