Cwm Rhiwiau Stone Circle

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 stone circle, which probably date to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC) and is located on a plateau overlooking the larger Rhos-y-beddau stone circle complex to the south. The circle is more oval in plan and measures 11.4m N-S by 10.4m E-W defined by 12 small upright edge set stones which project from 0.12 to 0.4m above the present ground surface. Close to the circle are two outlying stones, one 3m to the north, the other 20m south of it which could be forming a significant alignment.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The features are an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retain significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of both intact ritual and burial deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. Stone circles are often 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. It is a rectangle measuring 50m x 30m.