Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Gelligaer Common Standing Stone
Bedlinog, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Standing Stone
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 19 February 1953
- Community
- Bedlinog
- Unitary authority
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.72213, -3.29942
- SAM number
- GM221
- Cadw record number
- 2881
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
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 an early medieval inscribed stone, which probably dates from the fifth to ninth centuries AD. This leaning, roughly rectangular stone has an inscription running vertically on the south-eastern angle. It reads TEF (? or S) ROIHI or (The Stone of...oihi(?). The stone lies very close to the Roman Road that crosses Gelligaer Common (GM556) and is sited on the south-eastern edge of a horseshoe-shaped enclosure still visible as a low uneven bank.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the early medieval period in Wales (c. AD 400 – 1100) for which this class of monument forms one of the most important sources of evidence. It forms an important element within the wider early medieval landscape, providing important evidence for this formative period of Welsh history, particularly concerning the origins and evolution of Christianity, the development of stylistic traditions and carved stone production.
The area to be scheduled comprises the remains described. It is rectangular in shape on plan and measures 2m N-S by 1m transversely.
Nearby in the register
- Gelligaer Common Roman RoadRoadunder 1 mi
- Gelligaer Common Round CairnsRound Cairnunder 1 mi
- Platform Houses and Cairn Cemetery on Dinas NoddfaCairnfieldunder 1 mi
- Cairn 270m N of Pont FfosyrhebogRound Cairnunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.