The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Esgair Fraith (Cynwyl Gaeo)

Cairn(s)

Miscellaneous

Two Bronze Age cairns still reside upon Esgair Fraith, the south-western terminus of what (for convenience sake) I'll term Craig Twrch, in deepest Mid Wales. Having missed out on an audience last year due to a cloud base seemingly down to my ankles - or at least it appeared that way - I duly return this year... and was not disappointed.

The southern of the two appears the larger nowadays, owing to a modern 'marker' cairn surmounting the prehistoric base; however, I reckoned its neighbour, although lower in profile, possessed more detail: the remains of a kerb, perhaps? Hey, or even that of a cist?

What was not in any doubt was the fabulous views to be enjoyed... looking out across the enigmatic Carreg y Bwci (now what is THAT all about?) or, upon swinging around, to the north-east to gaze along Craig Twrch itself. Plenty more cairns a mile or so that-a-way, should one be curious enough and fancy going walkabout. As it happened, I did.

Coflein reckons:

Southern: "A large summit cairn, measuring 12 metres in diameter and still up to 0.40 metres high, although a modern marker cairn has been built with cairn stones on top of the monument. There is some evidence of a kerb... A possible cist, measuring 0.70 metres square, lies just to the south of its centre."

Northern: "A stone cairn, measuring 10 metres in diameter by up to 0.40 metres high. There is some evidence of a kerb and also a possible central cist appears to be exposed" [both R.P. Sambrook, Trysor, 26/3/2013]
GLADMAN Posted by GLADMAN
23rd July 2022ce
Edited 23rd July 2022ce

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