Ring Cairn and Two Standing Stones on Coedpenmaen Common

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument comprises the remains of a ring cairn of earth and stone which probably dates to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). The cairn is roughly 11m in diameter. The remains include eight small upright kerb stones about 1m wide, a cist and possible capstone at the south-west edge of the ring. Excavations in about 1830 reported cremations and 'bronze buttons' were found in the stone cist. Two standing stones lie to the north and north-east. The cairn and standing stones are located on a low level bank on Coedpenmaen common, east of Pontypridd.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The feature is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retains significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of both intact ritual and burial deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. Ring cairns 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.