Burnt Mound North of Dinaston Farm

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a burnt mound, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c. 2,300BC - 800BC). A burnt mound is an accumulation of burnt (fire-crazed) stones, ash and charcoal, usually sited next to a river or lake, with hearths and/or some form of trough or basin capable of holding water either within the mound or adjacent to it.

This prehistoric burnt mound is visible today as a low mound measuring 10m by 7m and rising above the surrounding ground to a height of approximately 0.6m. Auger sampling has shown it to be comprised of heat cracked stones and charcoal overlying a layer of burnt buried soil. The mound represents the debris and remains of prehistoric cooking activities.

The archaeological importance of the mound is enhanced by its survival in an area which has been subject to considerable agricultural improvements resulting in the loss of most other evidence for contemporary prehistoric settlement in the landscape. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric ritual and funerary practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and environmental evidence. A burnt mound 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.