Garn Wen Burial Chambers

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 chambered tomb, dating to the Neolithic period (c. 4,400 BC - 2,900 BC). Chambered tombs were built and used by local farming communities over long periods of time. There appear to be many regional traditions and variations in shape and construction.

The three burial chambers are in a line along the eastern side of an outcrop in area of waste ground, adjacent to a path at the rear of Harbour Village. The northern most of the tombs has a large capstone which measures 4m in length, 2m wide and 0.7m thick; it lies on the south side of the chamber on a massive sidestone measuring 2.3m in length, 1.3m wide and 0.7m in thickness, the opposite side rests on the ground. Internally the chamber measures 4m in width, 1.6m deep and has a height of 0.7m and is open on both east and west sides.

The central tomb has a slightly larger capstone which measures 4.2m in length, 2.7m wide and is 0.5m thick; it lies on the northern side of the chamber on three small side stones, with other small side stones free standing. This chamber is also open its east and west side and internally measures, 3.2m in width, 2 deep and has a height of 0.3m. A further large stone lies to the west of this chamber.

The southern most tomb is the best preserved and has the largest which measures 4.6m in length, 2.7m wide and 0.5m thick; its north, south and eastern sides are supported by three sides tones and the ground. The chamber is open on the W side , and has internal dimensions of 3.2m in width, 2m deep and has a height of1m. One large upright stands isolated on the western side of this tomb.

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 a buried prehistoric land surface. Chambered tombs 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 and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.