Garn Turne Burial Chamber

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. An enormous capstone, measuring 4m x 6m x 1.2m thick, is supported on one side by a fallen side-stone and dry stone walling. On the north side of the chamber lie the remains of a forecourt, six stones of which still stand, forming a semi-circle. There is a recumbent stone, measuring high x 1m at the base, c. 17m south east of the chamber: this was recorded as standing in 1981. The remains of a long cairn stretch to the south of the chamber and would appear to be enclosed by a kerb.

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 area scheduled comprises the remains described above, and the area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is an irregular polygon in shape on plan, and measures 160m N-S by 90m transversely.