Banc Llechwedd-mawr round cairns

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 two round cairns, burial mounds probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC - 800 BC) and situated on the summit of Banc Llechwedd-Mawr. The northernmost cairn (Item A: SN 7755 8987) measures about 9.5m in diameter and up to 0.6m in height. Although disturbed in the past by the construction of a drystone shelter, an undisturbed grass-covered stony ring bank remains visible (perhaps indicative of an earlier structural phase). The southernmost cairn (Item B: SN 7753 8983) measures about 10m in diameter and up to 1m in height. The cairn has a clearly defined edge - and a lower 'apron' like rounded platform extends 4m to the SE.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual. 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 intact burial or ritual deposits and environmental and structural evidence, including buried prehistoric land surfaces.

The area scheduled comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. Area A (SN 7755 8987) is circular and measures 22m in diameter. Area B (SN 7753 8983) is circular and measures 22m in diameter.