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Round Cairn
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Set at an altitude of c2,460ft and crowning the majestic cliff line of Bannau Sir Gaer - which tower above the dark waters of Llyn y Fan Fach - lie the scant remnants of a round barrow which, in all probability, was the last resting place of a Bronze Age chieftain.
As is often the case, the magnificent location, the sheer 'sense of place' of the site, is out of all proportion to the physical remains of the monument. Why, even the modern walker's cairn which surmounts the barrow is a pretty feeble attempt for a major summit such as this. Then again perhaps this is to miss the point… perhaps only a relatively minor structure was deemed necessary because of the location, which in itself said all that was needed about the power and importance of the individual interred. Perhaps.
To get to the technical bit, Coflein states that the cairn is "..circular, measuring 19.5m in diameter and 1.0m high. It has been disturbed and has a hummocky appearance, with a small modern cairn set upon it. The cairn is composed of mainly small stones, generally turf covered. At the centre can be seen the edge of an apparently upright slab, broken in three, with a total length of 1.3m and orientated roughly east-west. This is perhaps the vestiges of a cist. This is probably a prehistoric funerary monument and can be compared to the excavated example on Fan Foel to the east."
The most notable aspect of the Picws Du burial site is the frankly awesome view of the aforementioned Llyn y Fan Fach, sometimes referred to locally as the 'Fairy Lake' because of long standing associations with the Tylwyth Teg [the 'fair folk', hence 'fairies']. The lake is overflowing (sorry) with folklore and legend, the most famous being that of the 'Lady of the Lake', generally considered a reference to a Celtic goddess. Well, the water association certainly fits with known prehistoric ritual practice. Whatever the truth, it is clear that this small corner of Wales has afforded mankind with a righteous experience for millennia, and continues to do so.
Best approached via a minor road from Llanddeusant to free car parking at SN 797238. Here a well maintained track leads in about a mile or so to the lake, from where a substantial climb will bring you to the summit if you so desire.
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Posted by GLADMAN
2nd August 2009ce
Edited 2nd August 2009ce
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