Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Ffridd Fron Kerb Cairn
Llanfair, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Kerb Cairn
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 18 February 2003
- Community
- Llanfair
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.87156, -4.03457
- SAM number
- ME208
- Cadw record number
- 3935
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 Ancient Monument.
The monument comprises the well-preserved and largely intact remains of a burial cairn, which probably date to the Early Bronze Age (c. 2000-1500 BC). It is 4.5m in diameter and stands 0.5m high. Along its north-western edge, the heap of stones making up the body of the cairn is held in place by a kerb of six upright slabs of stone about 0.6m in height. This feature gives rise to the term "kerb cairn". In the centre of the cairn are the remains of a stone box or "cist" which once held the body or ashes of those interred in the monument. The cairn stands on an east-facing shelf overlooking Cwm Mawr with spectacular views over Cwm Bychan and Bwlch Tyddiad to the south and east.
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 structural evidence and intact burial or ritual deposits, as well as preserved prehistoric ground surfaces below the monument. Kerb cairns may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can be 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.
Nearby in the register
- Hut Circle Settlement North-East of Moel-y-GerddiUnenclosed hut circleunder 1 mi
- Deserted Rural Settlement North of Llyn y FedwHut Circle Settlementunder 1 mi
- Hut Circle North-East of Moel GoedogUnenclosed hut circleunder 1 mi
- Settlement 500m SE of Moel GoedogHut Circle Settlementunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.