The interior of the cairn from the previous two images, showing large slabs that are strong contenders for the the remains of a cist. Looking SSE, various other cairns in the extensive cairnfield are silhouetted across the skyline.
Looking north across the neat cairn from the previous image. The prominent hills on the skyline are (l-r) Mynydd Cilfach-yr-Encil, Mynydd Fochriw, Carn y Bugail and Gelligaer Common, all of which have cairns that I visited later on this walk.
Fine round cairn towards the northeastern edge of the cairnfield. Looking east across the Bargod Taf valley towards Gelligaer Common.
Another view of the cairn from the previous image, this time looking NE towards Mynydd Fochriw, Carn y Bugail and Gelligaer Common.
The remains of a large cairn on the western edge of the cairnfield. Although quite robbed, there are some large stones still present, including an upright that looks like a good contender for part of a cist. Looking SW across the Taf valley towards Twyn Bryn Bychan with mast, which has its own cairn.
Another view of the cairn from the previous image, looking SE. The eastern (left) side of the cairn incorporates a boulder or outcrop.
Large cairn in the middle of the cairnfield, with lots of exposed stone work. A slab on the edge might have formed part of a cist, and there is a hint of a kerb. Looking NNE towards Carn y Bugail and Gelligaer Common, where there are some excellent cairns.
An example of the mid-sized cairns in the centre of the cairnfield, looking SE towards the standing stone.
A small cairn towards the southeastern edge of the cairnfield with an upright stone within. The Mynydd y Capel standing stone can be seen silhouetted on the skyline, to the right of centre.
One of the larger cairns towards the south of the cairnfield, with a large slab embedded in its edge that might suggest a displaced capstone. Looking SSW.
CADW scheduling description of the cairnfield:
The monument comprises the remains of several prehistoric round cairns, burial mounds probably dating to the Bronze Age (c.2300 BC – 800 BC). Located on an elongated plateau at nearly 360m above OD, the number of cairns is exceptional.
Seventy-eight small stony mounds have been identified scattered irregularly over an area about 640m north-south by 230m wide. One mound (Cairn A) is 6.1m in diameter and 0.6m high and appears to have contained a cist and to have been surrounded by a rough kerb. The remainder comprise structureless cairns of stone, mostly very low and inconspicuous; only three are as much as 1m high. The majority (sixty-six) have their larger diameters ranging from 2.8 to 6.7m; of these, fifty-one are round, the rest oval. Ten are larger, four being round measuring from 7.3 to 10.4m in diameter, the remainder being oval, lengths ranging from 8 to 11m. Near the northern limit of the group, a low bank, about 3.7m wide and 0.6m high where best preserved crosses the plateau. Near its eastern end two upright slabs 1.7m apart probably indicate its original width. A branch to the south forms an incomplete enclosure. Near the southern limit are the foundations of two rectangular buildings about 10.7 by 4.6m, now represented by slight low banks about 0.9m wide. The presence of these buildings and of the low bank suggests that some of the cairns may be no more than clearance dumps, but some would be acceptable in isolation as burial cairns, especially that which shows traces of kerbing, and the larger cairn at the south-eastern limit of the group.
