Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Hengwm Stone Circles
Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Stone Circle
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 11 October 1993
- Community
- Dyffryn Ardudwy
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.77163, -4.05217
- SAM number
- ME136
- Cadw record number
- 535
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
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 two stone circles, which probably date to the Early Bronze Age. Only a few stones now remain but traces of a bank and ditch can be identified around each. The sites lie in upland improved pasture.
ME136A (S circle)
The bank of this circle is faint but discernible. Four stones are visible with one outlier 5m to the S of the southernmost stone. A former field bank which passes close by survives as a clearer feature than the bank of the circle.
ME136B (N circle)
The circle is almost invisible but probably one stone survives in the field wall which clips it on the E.
Excavations in 1919 revealed evidence of prehistoric burial and burning, and sherds of Beaker pottery were discovered.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric ritual and burial practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The circles also form part of an important group of prehistoric monuments which follow an ancient trackway around the western fringe of the uplands in this part of Gwynedd.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Pen y Dinas CairnRound Cairnunder 1 mi
- Llecheiddior Stone CircleStone Circleunder 1 mi
- Ceunant Egryn Hut GroupEnclosed hut circleunder 1 mi
- Carneddau Hengwm Long CairnsChambered Long Cairnunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.