Two Ring Cairns West of Cwm Tywyll

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 ring cairns of earth and stone, which probably date to the Bronze Age (c.2300 - 800 BC). The larger and better defined of the cairns lies on the summit of a small hillock and is 10m in diameter and consists of a low circular stone ring with small boulders protruding through the short grass cover with a fairly level featureless interior. The second is located slightly to the east of the top of the ridge on a slightly more sheltered level terraced position, some 35m from the first. This cairn has more stone evident, particularly around the north eastern edge of the ring. The land drops away to the east of the cairn.

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 (at SJ04054 33882 & SJ04096 33890) and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.