The Ordnance Survey (1:25000) map shows the mound just to the northeast of the summit of Tomle as a “pile”. The CPAT record suggests it as a “clearance cairn”.
Whatever stonework might be under the turf is hidden. The mound is approximately circular and it would seem a strange place for a clearance cairn. Although its antiquity is unproven, my money would be on this being a round barrow or cairn, especially given the proximity of a definite example (Bwlch Maen Gwynedd Cairn) at the foot of Craig Berwyn to the west.
There are a number of other “mounds” shown on OS map along this ridge, I didn’t see the one to the northwest at SJ0818633759 on my visit.
I didn't add this when I walked from Mynydd Tarw back in 2011 since the general insinuation is the 'mounds and 'stone piles' on this ridge are post-medieval? Maybe the pros had access to some other local historical source, maybe?
To be fair, I didn't notice anything on Foel Wen at all... even though there is supposed to be a 'stone circle' there - perhaps the now destroyed kerb of a now destroyed cairn.. but you have to say the Tomle 'mound' does look like a proper summit cairn.
Coflein reckons: "Cairn consisting of mixed slatestone and quartz, diameter about 1m, 0.3m high, situated on top of Tomle ridge." at SJ0853233532
Yeah, I umm'd and ah'd a bit about adding it, but decided it was worth it as I'm struggling to see why anyone would add a post-medieval stone pile to the top of a mountain (unless it's an early example of marker cairn). Given how many definite round barrows and cairns there are up here, it must be in with a shout of being another. I reckon it justifies being on here as a 'disputed' site at any rate. I would have loved to have continued to Foel Wen and Mynydd Tarw, but that would have been too much as I had to get back to Llandrillo to finish. The walk nearly killed me as it was!
The Coflein description relates to the little marker cairn on the summit itself I think, the 1m diameter description is definitely not the large mound I've posted photos of, which is a little to the NE along the fenceline from the summit.
Yeah, you're right about the 'Coflein' one.
My notes said: "Foel Wen is supposed to possess a ‘mound’ of unknown origin (not sure it now does, to be fair), 2,431ft Tomle a small quartzite summit cairn and at least one, additional ‘mound’. Whether these are clearance or not I guess only excavation may determine. Must admit that the grassed-over example near the quartzite cairn looks too substantial to these eyes,Foel Wen is supposed to possess a ‘mound’ of unknown origin (not sure it now does, to be fair), 2,431ft Tomle a small quartzite summit cairn and at least one, additional ‘mound’. Whether these are clearance or not I guess only excavation may determine. Must admit that the grassed-over example near the quartzite cairn looks too substantial to these eyes, but perhaps that’s wishful thinking...
Although they didn't say it twice, to be fair.
Haha! Interesting that the rounded mound I saw on Tomle is labelled as "pile" on the OS (which ought to suggest exposed material perhaps?). The "mound" actually labelled as such on Tomle passed me by entirely, I didn't see anything there, but I was trying to avoid sinking in a peat bog at the time.
Well, this is the Tomle mound I clocked... looks like yours I think?
media.themodernantiquarian.com/images/originals/102207.jpg?0
That certainly looked like a grassed-over summit cairn to me. Was looking for a second opinion, so guess you've supplied it.
Yep, that's the one :)