Rhiwiau round barrow cemetery

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 four round barrows, burial mounds probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC) and situated in enclosed pasture on the central ridge formed by the diverging headwaters of the Afon Hyrdd.

The northernmost and largest barrow is roughly oval on plan, measuring roughly 31m from NW to SE by 22m transversely. It stands up to 2.8m in height and was probably originally round. It has been disturbed in the past, with historical documentation noting both robbing and antiquarian investigation. Several funerary urns and a bronze dagger are recorded as having been discovered. Three further barrows are visible within the enclosed pasture situated further to the SW: the first is roughly circular on plan and measures about 14m in diameter and up to 0.6m in height; the next is roughly circular on plan and measures about 15m in diameter and up to 0.8m in height; and the last and south-westernmost is roughly circular on plan and measures about 14.5m in diameter and up to 0.8m in height. All three, although reduced by ploughing in the past, remain substantially intact.

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 and environmental and structural evidence. The two larger barrows (DE100 Item A and DE124 Blaen y Cwm Round Barrow), situated on opposing sides of the valley, may indicate that the cemetery was originally much larger. The important Bronze Age funerary and ritual landscape of Brenig is situated about 5km to the SE.

The barrows are located on the northern scarp of Mynydd Hiraethog (Denbigh Moors) with higher ground to the southwest. Significant views are therefore north-east along the valley of the Afon Hyrdd in an arc from south-east to north-west.

The scheduled areas comprise the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Area A is centred upon Item A (the northernmost barrow, SH 9445 6065); it is circular and measures 38m in diameter. Area B is centred upon Item B (SH 9435 6044); it is circular and measures 18m in diameter. Area C is centred upon Item C (SH 9423 6043); it is circular and measures 22m in diameter. Area D is centred upon Item D (SH 9416 6032); it is circular and measures 22m in diameter.