Burnt Mound East of Pen-y-Gaer

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument consists of the well preserved remains of a burnt mound, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c. 2,300BC - 800BC), although close proximity to Pen-y-Gaer Iron Age hillfort could suggest a later date for this example. A burnt mound is an accumulation of burnt (fire-crazed) stones, ash and charcoal, usually sited next to a river or lake, with hearths and/or some form of trough or basin capable of holding water either within the mound or adjacent to it. They are believed to have been rubbish dumps for heat cracked stones used for heating water and cooking food. The monument is visible as a kidney-shaped mound, 17m in diameter and over 1m high.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric ritual and funerary practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits, possibly associated with the hillfort. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and environmental evidence. A burnt mound 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.