Sling Burial Chamber

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 a chambered tomb, dating to the Neolithic period (c. 4,400 BC - 2,900 BC).

The remains of this burial chamber are situated on the side of a hill facing to the west and have been incorporated into a modern stone wall. A large rectangular capstone measuring 4.5m long, 1.4m wide and 0.5m thick is supported on one side by a single upright 0.8m in height, while the other end rests on the ground. The remains of another upright lie under the capstone.

Chambered tombs were built and used by local farming communities over long periods of time. There appear to be many regional traditions and variations in shape and construction. They are thought to have been located so that they could be viewed from and to neighbouring funerary monuments, prominent natural features and associated settlement sites. In this case the significant view appears to be northwestwards along the valley of the Afon Cegin.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual. 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 and environmental and structural evidence, including a buried prehistoric land surface. Chambered tombs may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can 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.