thesweetcheat

As well as the two massive cairns, there are two other possible BA cairns on on near the summit of Cefn yr Ystrad (“Ridge of the Vale”?). Coflein descriptions:

Garn Felen III (SO0882513838)

A scatter of stones 7m diameter which may be the base of a cairn. On top is a cone-shaped rock pile, base diameter 1.5m and 1.5m high, probably a much later clearance cairn. In a very prominent location, with steep drop and view to N.

Garn Felen II (SO0854513843)

Located on a slope. Outer ring of rubble stone, 6-8m diameter, on all sides except uphill. In the centre is a conical mound 2.5m across and 1m high, probably the result of later clearance.

Pair of cairns on slopes overlooking Pontsticill Reservoir. Coflein descriptions:

Northern cairn

A large circular cairn 14.6m in diameter and about 0.6m high with a slightly dished centre, probably robbed to build a nearby field wall to the W.

Southern cairn

Located in open moorland, a circular cairn 5.8m in diameter and 0.45m high showing traces of a kerb, overgrown with grasses and heather.

Sadly ploughed down remains of a large round barrow, between Kinnerton Court stones and Four Stones.

Coflein (v. brief) description:

A plough-spread barrow, 34-32m in diameter and 1.0m high.

Three cairns to the SE of Titterstone Clee Hill, two large and one much smaller. Description from Pastscape:

Two cairns on Hoar Edge.

(A: SO 59617679) The remains of a cairn some 20.0m. in diameter and now only 0.6m. high.

(B: SO 59627684) This cairn is more complete. It is some 17.0m in diameter and some 1.6m. high. The centre has been opened, and a pile of stones at SO 59638781 probably came from the cairn.

At ‘C’, SO59637683, in between ‘A’ and ‘B’ is a third, smaller cairn, measuring in diameter 7.0m east to west by 6.5m north to south, with a  maximum height of 0.4m. The cairn is composed of small boulders and stones. There is no evidence to show that the material came from cairn ‘B’.

Two stone rings and string of beads were reported found, but these have since been “lost”.

pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=110947

Robbed out cairn, SE of the multiple stone circles. Description from Pastscape:

This cairn is on level ground at about 300m OD. It has been much robbed by digging away the centre from the north side where there is a 2.0m gap in the rim-like perimeter. Its diameter is 8.0m and rim height 0.4m. There is no trace of a 
kerb or of a cist.

Possible holy well, the well-head is a Victorian construction made using elements of gothic tracery when the church was restored. The earliest documentary source is 1570.

More here, along with other info about Sheepstor village history:

legendarydartmoor.co.uk/sheepstor_church.htm

Description from Coflein:

“Bronze Age cairn inside Foel Fenlli Hillfort (NPRN96522). Outer circle of compacted earth and stone, approx 12m diameter and 1m high, fairly flat with thin covering of grass. Probably truncated. The centre is surmounted by a modern cairn, a pile of stones 4m diameter and 1m high. Located at the highest point of Foel Fenlli, with panoramic views.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/501246/details/FOEL+FENLLI%2C+CAIRN/

Description from Coflein:

“Remains of a burial cairn, situated on the NW-facing slopes of Carreg Lefain. The heather-covered cairn is circular on plan and measures about 11m in diameter and up to 0.75m in height. A well defined kerb of large stones is visible around much of the perimeter and two larger upright stones stand within the cairn.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/300932/details/CAIRN%2C+CARREG+LEFAIN/

Restored Bronze Age summit cairn at the northern end of Penycloddiau fort. Coflein details prior to reconstruction:

A mound of rubble stone, 2m diameter and 0.7m high, formerly summounted by a triangulation point, marked on 1st edition OS map. Due to erosion from the nearby Offa’s Dyke Path, an evaluation excavation was undertaken in 2008 to test the origin and date of the mound. Based on these results a more extensive investigation was conducted in May 2009. Both programmes of work were undertaken by CPAT. The excavations showed that the mound was artificial and had a large pit at its centre, possibly a robbed Bronze Age cist but also possible as a more recent disturbance. The general conclusions, despite the lack of dating evidence, was that the mound was a former Bronze Age burial cairn although it was heavily disturbed in later times by the erection of a triangulation point and a walker’s cairn. A report has been deposited in the NMRW archive. The monument will now be reconstructed by the Heather and Hillforts Project.

Pair of round barrows on Moel Maenefa. Brief descriptions from Coflein:

NE barrow (SJ08717441)

a sub-circular mound, 10m in diameter and 13m high, with an Os triangulation pillar set upon it.

SW barrow (SJ08687434)

11m by 13m and 0.6m high

Brief Coflein description:

A ruined cairn, c.14m in diameter and 0.4m high.

Remains of a once large cairn, Coflein description:

A circular cairn, 18.9m in diameter and 0.6m high, set on a parish boundary, and crowned by an OS triangulation pillar and three small, recent cairns.

Two cairns, now surrounded by forest. Coflein descriptions:

Mynydd Ton cairn 1 (SS94799395)

A round cairn, 8.0m in diameter and 0.6m high, showing kerb elements on the SW. Excavated in 1902, revealing a cist within.

Mynydd Ton cairn 2 (SS94939405)

A round cairn, 11m in diameter and 0.8m high, excavation, in 1902, revealed a central cist, no longer apparent.

Coflein (very brief) description:

A ruined round cairn, or cairn circle, 9.0m in diameter and 0.2m high.

Cairn that yielded a bronze dagger and urn sherds, Coflein description:

An ill-defined oval stony mound, c.9.1m E-W by 6.1m and 0.3m high, centrally disturbed.
The cairn is set within Maendy Camp (Nprn301331), and was investigated with it in 1901, when a bronze dagger, sherds of an urn and worked flints were recovered

Neat bivallate enclosure, Coflein description:

Set on the ridge of Mynydd Maendy, is a sub-oval enclosure, c.110m N-S by 98m, defined by a rubble bank with an external ditch. The E part of the enclosure is sub-divided about a slighter oval work, c.51m N-S by 36m, also defined by rubble banks.

Large cairn on an alignment with the nearby Down Tor stone row. Description from Pastscape:

A round cairn located 770 metres north-east of Combshead Tor. The cairn mound measures 17 metres in diameter and stands up to 1.5 metres high. A hollow in the centre of the mound measures 4 metres long, 3 metres wide and 1.2 metres deep, and is probably the result of partial robbing or early excavation. The edges of the mound are steep-sided, indicating the existence of a kerb, which now survives mainly as a buried feature. A quarry ditch surrounds the mound, visible as a 1.5 metre wide band of rushes on the northern side of the mound, the result of increased moisture in the buried ditch. This cairn is in direct line with the two terminal stones at either end of a stone alignment to the south-west (SX 56 NE 29).

Description from Pastscape:

A sub-circular enclosure with an approximately level interior and no trace of hut circles. The internal diameter is 40-43m and the enclosure covers an area of 1400m square. The wall is constructed from large moorstone blocks though now collapsed and spread and partially turf covered. The wall is up to 5m wide by 0.6m high. A possible entrance on the east side has an orthostat post in situ 1.4m high.

pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=438586

Six assorted cairns on Normandy Down. Brief descriptions of the four principle cairns, with grid refs:

SV 9297 1118: Entrance grave located 135 metres north east of Water Rocks, Normandy Down. Scheduled.

SV 9306 1117: Kerbed platform cairn with funerary chamber located 190 metres north east of Water Rocks, Normandy Down. Scheduled.

SV 9291 1114: Platform cairn located 100 metres north west of Water Rocks, Normandy Down. Scheduled.

SV 9301 1118: Round cairn located 155 metres north east of Water Rocks, Normandy Down. Scheduling revision.

Much more on Pastscape here:

pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=304038

Description from Pastscape:

On the crest of a hill at approximately 38.0m OD is an earth and stone semi-circular cairn 12.0m a cross and 0.7m high, with no visible ditch. The scrub and bracken covered mound comprises several boulders; the largest being 9.0m x 0.4m. The tops of two parallel stones suggest a possible cist or chamber. Overall
the barrow is in good firm condition.

More here:

pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=304044

Clifftop barrow excavated by William Copeland Borlase late 1870s. Description from Pastscape:

The barrow is in poor condition and consists of a mound of earth 0.7m high, and a mutilated circle of retaining stones. Three stones in the north west sector and set on edge and appear to be in situ but the remainder are recumbent. There is no trace of a cist within the barrow.

Much more here.

Listed and described in the 2010 edition of Cheryl Straffon’s excellent “Earth Mysteries Guide to Ancient Sites in West Penwith” (Meyn Mamvro Publications).

Full description from Pastscape:

Centred at SW 38572798 is an elongated mound, oriented north north west to south south east. It is 26m long and from 5m to 6m wide, in a crest situation above a slight south slope, whereby it is clearly visible from the south east and all around to the west or seaward side.

The northern 11m consists of closely packed small stone, 0.1m to 0.2m across, mounded to create a flat top 1.3m wide and 0.9m high, for 6.5m. It then drops as a step of 0.3m to 0.4m and for the northern most 4.5m the top broadens to 3.2m. Seven firmly earthfast stones occur at irregular intervals by the edge of the flat top and towards the perimeter of the mound. Most protrude 0.1m to 0.3m but one of two leaning slabs is 0.9m high. The majority of the stones are blocks and connot be described as representing a kerb. On and beside the mound are seventeen loose blocks and slabs, many about 1m long and 0.7m wide; they may have been displaced from the mound or its perimeter but there are no obvious depressions to confirm this.

Extending southwards, for 15m, from this clearly man-made structure is a mass of outcrop with horizontal and vertical weathering, splitting it into a series of flat topped boulders. Initially level with the stone mound, they rise to 1.7m above it and at the southern edn are 3m above ground level. For 6m along the axis small stones have been packed against the outcrop and into crevices but there is little evidence of this in the southern 9m where the outcrop is more solid.

The cairn is most unlikely to be the result of clearance dumping and there are no indications of agricultural activity which might necessitate this and the suggestion, advanced in 1960 (SW 32 NE 23) seems erroneous.

In short the work appears to be a form of long cairn, but unusual in the utilization of outcrop to enhance its length and visibility.

.....

There is no sign of excavation (as opposed to minor robbing and displacement of stones) of the long cairn.

Description of the cairn and cist from Pastscape:

“On Burford Down, near Tristis Rock, is a retaining circle of a barrow, internal diameter between 16 and 17 feet and consisting of
twelve stones which enclose the remaining south side stone of a cist. The overall length of the side stone is 4 feet 6 inches, the internal length of the cist would not have been more than 3 feet.

SX 63776015 A circular cairn, 5 to 5.3m diameter and 0.6m high, on the summit of a small ridge of 260m above OD. It has a central cist, surrounded by an apparently complete retaining circle or peristalith of 12 regularly spaced stones up to 0.9m by 0.2m and 0.8m high. Only the south side stone of the cist remains within a central hollow.

It is aligned on the terminal cairn of the nearby stone row (SX 66 SW 57), grid bearing 282o.”

Description from Pastscape:

“(SX 64056516) Enclosure

Visible on air photographs.

At about 380.0m. OD on a SW facing slope above the river Erme is an enclosure of approximately 0.75ha., with walling of average width of 2.5m.-3.0m. and a maximum height of 1.0m., constructed of large boulders with some orthostats. Attached to the NW side of the enclosure is a yard and two hut circles (see SX 66 NW 49).

Within the enclosure is a hut circle, oval rather than circular in shape, with a maximum internal measurement of 3.7m. a thickness of wall of 1.0m. and an entrance on the SW side. The walling is largely orthostatic. There is no evidence of stone clearance within the enclosure. The area is naturally fairly open and clear
of rocks.”

There are two definite and one possible cairns on Piles Hill. Descriptions from Pastscape:

“(SX 65336084) Cairn

A cairn of rare type, consisting of a central mound, surrounded by a fairly level platform which is enclosed in an outer bank.

A bell-cairn of Wessex type situated at 387m. O.D. in a prominent position on Piles Hill. It is 29.0m. in overall diameter and comprises a platform 0.3m. high with the perimeter raised to a height of 0.5m. by the formation of a bank of stones incorporating a possible double row of orthostats although only the tops of these protrude. Centrally placed within the platform is a mound 17.0m. in diameter and 0.7m. high; it has suffered minor depredations with evidence of an excavation trench on the north side. The cairn could be described as a rimmed platform with central mound and is not common though examples occur in Cornwall on St. Breock Downs and Bodmin moor.

(SX 65326099) Cairn

A cairn 12.5m. in diameter and 1.1m. high situated on Piles Hill at about 385m. above O.D. There is an eccentric hollow in the mound, 4.0m. across and 1.0m. deep probably from excavation, but both the hollow and the mound are now mostly turf-covered.

(SX 65356104) Possible Cairn

At SX 65356104, 100m. north east of a cairn
(SX 66 SE 52), there is a circular mound measuring 8.5m. in overall diameter and 0.3m. high with a flat top 4.5m. across. It is not an obvious cairn since the mound appears to be of soil with no surface stone. There is however nothing to suggest that it is of modern origin and it is possibly a small bowl barrow, or perhaps an old peat mound.”

Brief description from Pastscape:

“Cairn at SX 65665940, 17 metres diameter by 1.2 metres high.

Large central hollow.”

Information about the row from Pastscape, including the possibility that it terminated at Hobajons Cross, rather than the Longstone on Piles Hill.

“( SX 65635880 – SX 65526037) Stone Row (NR) (1)

A stone row extending from a barrow on Butterdon Hill (SX 65 NE 66) to Hobajons Cross (SX 66 SE 58 a standing stone at SX
65516047). The row formerly extended north from Hobajons Cross to the Longstone (a standing stone at SX 65436074) on Piles Hill,
but this stretch was destroyed in 1803 (see SX 66 SE 107).

Also in 1803 stones split by the tare and feather method were introduced into the row, when the alignment was accepted as the boundary between Harford and Langford Lester Moors.(2)(3)

The northern part of the Butterdon stone row has been surveyed from Hangershell Rocks cairn at SX 65645941 to Hobajons Cross
at SX 65506045.

For the 1050m of this part the majority of the several hundred stones are from 0.1m to 0.4m high and form an irregular line. There is a gap of 70.0m on the north side of Hangershell but otherwise the row is fairly continuous. The area is not entirely free of natural surface stones and while some can be immediately discounted occasionally there is a short double or triple row
where all the stones are alike and these which formed the original row cannot now be determined. Barely two dozen stones
are 0.5m high or higher, Hobajons Cross at 1.2m being the highest. It is possible that this was at some stage a terminal stone since it appears to have cup marks on the south face and the extension onwards, to the Longstone, is on an entirely different alignment.”

hhttps://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=441148

Site added as “stone circle” due to appearance in Burl’s “Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany” (Yale 1995, 2nd ed 2005) and also description on Pastscape:

“(SX 65635881) Stone Circle (NR)(1)

A low cairn within a retaining circle of stones is situated at SX
65635881, at the south end of the Butterdon stone row (SX 65 NE 17),
with which it is associated.
The circle is 11 metres in diameter, and consists of twelve stones,
all now recumbent, although when Worth wrote in 1941, one was erect
and three were leaning. Some of the stones are unusually large.
The cairn is 9 metres in diameter by 0.3 metre high, with a hollow
in the centre.”

pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=441240

Site info from Pastscape:

“South of Penning Barn – Avebury 18; bowl barrow, 33 paces by
9 ft. (2)

A well preserved grass covered bowl barrow, slightly oval;
diameter 39.0m E-W, 34.0m N-S, height 2.7m. Signs of disturbance
are visible on top, and the E perimeter is partially cut-back.”

Possible round barrow next to the Tawe river. Description from Coflein:

“Located between valley road and river, and 55m south of a monolith, is a stony mound. It measures 5m (NW-SE) by 4m and 0.4m high. It seems undisturbed. Given its relative proximity to various stone settings, its identity as a burial cairn is distinctly possible. However, stone clearance and platform features have been identified to the south of this site.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/404186/details/WAUN+LEUCI%3A+POSSIBLE+ROUND+BARROW/

Description of this diminutive site from Coflein:

“A stone setting located in the upper Tawe valley, west of (and in sight of) the standing stone of Waun Leuci.

The setting lies about 27m west of the valley road and comprises four upright or leaning slabs surrounding a boulder.
The outer slabs form roughly four corners of a square with sides 2.5m (diagonal 3.5m). Clockwise from the north-west they measure: 0.25m x 0.1m and 0.4m high; 0.45m x 0.35m and 0.55m high; a stump 0.35m x 0.15m; 0.6m x 0.15m and 0.3m high. The central boulder measures 0.6m x 0.35m and 0.5m high.
These forms are commonly found on Exmoor, where they are given the name ‘quincunx’, but are otherwise without parallel in the British Isles.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/404184/details/WAUN+LEUCI%3A+STONE+SETTING/

Four bronze age cairns in the vicinity of Upper Neuadd reservoir. Updated descriptions from Coflein:

Upper Neuadd cairn I (SO0283219182)

A small ring cairn, one of three cairns on the southern end of an “island” in Upper Neuadd Reservoir (see Nprn305683). The RCAHMW Brecknock Inventory, published in 1997, references this site on page 113 as RC 207. The ring cairn measures 7m east-west by 6.5m north-south. It is composed of stones which form an uninterrupted ring bank 2.2m wide and up to 0.40m high. NPRN 305683 lies 2.5m to the southwest of it, and NPRN 246303 ten metres to the south of that. The cairns are now above the water and covered by grass but in the past have been submerged.

J.J. Hall, Trysor, 6 December 2008.”

Upper Neuadd cairn II (SO0282619178)

A ring cairn, one of three cairns on the southern end of an “island” in Upper Neuadd Reservoir (see Nprn305682). The RCAHMW Brecknock Inventory, published in 1997, references this site on page 112 as RC 205. The ring cairn measures 10.4m north-south by 9.6m east-west. It is composed of stones which form an uninterrupted ring bank averaging 2m wide and up to 0.30m high. NPRN 305682 lies 2.5m to the northeast of it, and NPRN 246303 ten metres to the south of it. The cairns are now above the water and covered by grass but in the past have been submerged.

J.J. Hall, Trysor, 6 December 2008.

Upper Neuadd Ring Cairn (III?) (SO0282519161)

A ring cairn, one of three cairns on the southern end of an “island” in Upper Neuadd Reservoir. The RCAHMW Brecknock Inventory, published in 1997, references this site on page 113 as RC 206. It has a diameter of 4.25m, the stone bank forming the ring being 1m wide and 0.20m high. NPRN 305683 lies 10m to the north of it, and NPRN 305682 lies 2.5m to the northeast of that. The cairns are now above the water and covered by grass but in the past have been submerged.

J.J. Hall, Trysor, 9 November 2008.

Nant-yr-Hen Heol cairn (SO0288419501)

An oval cairn lying in the valley bottom close to a small stream, recorded as RC204, page 112 in the RCAHMW Brecknock Inventory, Part I, published in 1997. It measures c. 6.5m northwest-southeast x 5.3m and up to 0.5m high with a flat top. The cairn is largely composed of small rounded sandstone. A modern cairn, NPRN 246478, has been constructed on top of the cairn towards its north side. When visited during Uplands Survey in October 2008 it was largely turf covered but exposed on the northwest side.

J.J. Hall, Trysor, 22 November 2008.

Three round barrows below Mynydd y Cwm, descriptions from Coflein:

Barrow I (SJ0758577185):

“This is one of a group of three barrows ... . It is an irregular oval mound, possibly a natural feature, 39m by 32m and 1.5m to 2.7m high.”

Barrow II (SJ0755777069)

“This is one of a group of three barrows ... . It has been ploughed down, surviving as a low mound 13m in diameter and 0.7m high.

Excavation in 1955 revealed a central in-urned cremation, two secondary cremations and a small bone pommel. A socketed iron axehead, thought to be Iron Age, was recovered from the surface soil.”

Barrow III (SJ0770077145)

“This is one of a group of three barrows ... . It has been ploughed out and survives as a low mound 20m in diameter and 0.7m high.

Excavation in 1956 demonstrated the presence of a central cremation, with urn fragments, within a pseudo-cist, as well as a possible secondary cremation.”

Two round barrows here, very close to Offa’s Dyke Path. Descriptions from Coflein:

1. Northern barrow at SJ07098146

“1. Positioned on a local rise this turf-covered mound measures 13.5m (N-S) by 12.3m with a height of 1m on the W, 0.6m elsewhere. A rough track across the field runs close by on the W and some damage has been caused to this side of the mound by vehicles.
2. Opened 1912, revealing primary interment, ashes and small fragments of calcined bones in a central cist. Below were Neolithic features”

2. Southern barrow at SJ06998114

“Situated on a local summit this flat-topped round barrow overgrown with gorse, brambles and grasses measures 15.4m (E-W) by 14.5m with a height of 1.4m on the W, 1m elsewhere. The mound lies on the W side of the Offa’s Dyke path.”

Description from Coflein:

“A possible fallen standing stone is located on a small ledge above, and to the west of, a stream. It is a large quadrangular boulder 2.6m long, 1.8m wide (max), 1.1m wide (min) and 0.7m thick.

The alignment of the long axis of the stone is north-south. No evidence for a setting could be found. The stone is surrounded by a shallow ditch, about 0.2m deep and 0.5m wide, probably the result of peat shrinkage. Small boulders in this ditch may be the remains of packing material or, more likely, derived from the stone through erosion or attempts at quarrying it.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/84578/details/CEFN-YR-HENRIW%2C+RECUMBENT+MONOLITH/

Coflein description of the site (there are 28 associated monument records):

“The cairnfield is located in a natural hollow. It covers an area of some 450m (NW-SE) by 200m and possibly includes also two cairns separately described (300970-1).
The group comprises at least 40 stony mounds and two or three short lengths of stony bank. The mounds are of variable shape and size but average 5m in diameter and 0.4m high. The banks are short and discontinuous and appear to form no clear pattern.”

The two main cairns (shown on the OS map) are described as follows:

Cwalca Round Cairn (SO15901734)

“Situated on a local summit, the cairn measures 8m in diameter and 0.4m high. It is composed of mixed grade stones consolidataed with light vegetation. It lies on a ridge at the W edge of a larger group of smaller and more irregularly shaped cairns resulting from agricultural clearance (NPRN 300972); it could be a member of this group.”

Cwalca Ring Cairn (SO15911746)

“Situated on a local summit in open moorland, the cairn consists of a stony ring bank measuring 2.5m wide and 0.5m high with an overall diameter of 10m. The interior is occupied with loose stones.
The feature lies on a ridge at the W edge of a larger group of smaller and more irregularly shaped cairns resulting from agricultural clearance (NPRN300972); it, or at least the infill, could be a member of this group.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/300972/details/CWALCA+CAIRNFIELD/

From “Discovering Prehistoric England” – James Dyer (Shire 2001):

“Three round barrows exist here. The largest is 10 metres across and contained a central core of stones 4 metres in diameter, among which two collared urns were found in the 1860s. One contained a cremation, miniature cup, bone pins and a stone battleaxe. The smallest mound contained a cremation. The third mound, 8.5 meatres across and 1.2 metres high, has not yet yielded a burial.”

Description from Coflein:

“The southernmost, and largest, of three cairns located on the E side of a mountain trackway. It measures 15m (N-S) by 13m and 1.4m high. Cairn material is exposed in a central excavation hollow measuring 4.4m (E-W) by 3.7m and 0.5m deep. The mound is otherwise turf-covered and overgrown with bilberry. A stone slab embedded close to the NW of the cairn edge is possibly part of a robbed cist, but may be no more than a local outcrop exposure.
An E-W footpath passes between this cairn and its northern neighbour.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/404437/details/BLAEN-Y-CWM+UCHAF+CAIRN+CEMETERY%3A+CAIRN+III/

Description from Coflein:

“A cairn, with what appears to be an adjacent platform and stone setting, is located to the east of a trackway along Cefn Moel, some 33m from a nearby fence-line and at 380m above OD. It is entirely surrounded by gorse making visibility from the track difficult.
The cairn is a stony, turf-covered mound which has been considerably disturbed giving it an irregular perimeter. Overall it measures about 14m (NW-SE) by 7m. The main body of the mound measures 8.5m (N-S) by 7.5m with average height of 0.3m. Roughly at centre is a hollowed area measuring roughly 4m by 2m across and 0.25m deep. This is perhaps the site of a robbed cist the capstone of which may be the slab which lies embedded within the hollowed area. Conjoining on the SE is an irregular extension of the mound forming a vague platform, measuring about 7m across. Poorly-defined on its N side , it is marked on its E side by seven
low, upright and leaning stone slabs which protrude from its edge.

The monument lies within 1 km of the Ffynnon Las ritual complex (NPRN 403768) and several other Bronze Age round cairns. It therefore constitutes one element in a wider funerary and ritual landscape. It is unusual in respect of the conjoining platform and kerb. Although there is evidence for considerable disturbance there remains the potential for further structural elements to be revealed and well-preserved buried ground surfaces.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/306004/details/CEFN+MOEL%3A+ROUND+CAIRN+AND+STONE+SETTING/

Hugely informative description from Coflein:

“A ridge-top cairn, 18m in diameter and 1.4m high.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/306002/details/PEN-YR-HEOL+LAS%2C+CAIRN/

Description from Coflein:

“Round Cairn I, Ffynon Las, is situated on a local rise to the immediate east of a trackway along the ridge of Cefn Moel at 360m above sea level. It is a turf-consolidated stony mound measuring 8m in diameter. Its height is 0.4m on the east, 0.2m on the west. At its centre is an irregularly-shaped hollow about 2m across and 0.2m deep.

It is possible to see this monument as one element in a wider prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape given the proximity of several sites of contemporary date including a ritual complex (NPRN 403768). This particular cairn is relatively well preserved and therefore holds a strong possibility for preserved burial remains, structural features and a buried land surface.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/306003/details/FFYNNON+LAS%3A+ROUND+CAIRN+I/

Description from Coflein:

“A centrally mutilated cairn, 19m in diameter and 1.2m high, surmounted by a modern cairn.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/306001/details/CEFN+MOEL%2C+CAIRN+I%3BBWLCH+CAIRN/

Small univallate fort to the south of Maen Madoc. Desription from Coflein as follows:

“Gelli-nedd univallate fort is located on the summit of a limestone ridge. The plan is oval in form measuring internally 60m northwest to southeast by 45m, an enclosed area of approximately 0.41ha. Most of the west side is formed by a precipitous cliff where no artificial defences were required, whereas the remaining sides comprise a rampart of limestone rubble, partly grass-grown, with an external rock-cut ditch around the north and south. The rampart is strongest on the north where the outer scarp rises to 3m, the inner scarp to 0.9m. The entrance is a simple gap measuring 3m wide on the northeast.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/84605/details/GELLI-NEDD+HILLFORT/

From “Gloucestershire Barrows” by H. O’Neil and L. Grinsell (1960):

” ‘Mr Lysons exhibited an urn taken out of a tumulus ... in a field called Inlands ... in the year 1779. It was deposited in the centre of the tumulus, in a pentagonal cell about 2 ft. 5 ins. deep, formed by 5 large hewn stones, over which was placed another very large stone to secure it. ... In the urn was a considerable quantity of ashes and burnt bones.’ The mound consisted of ‘fine black earth mixed with wood ashes, except a stratum of rubbish 20ins in depth from the top.’ Archa, ix, 1789, 367.

‘Another small tumulus adjoining to the one above-mentioned was also opened at the same time, in which the urn was not deposited in a cell, but was buried in the earth, so that it could not be taken out entire. ... It appears to have been of the same kind as the preceding.’ ”

The barrow was visited by Leslie Grinsell on 1 November 1959, reporting that it was damaged by badgers. The proportions were recorded as diameter 28 feet, height 5 feet.

Bivallate fort, near to the source of the river Thames. Site description from pastscape:

pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?a=0&hob_id=212751&criteria=fort&search=all#aRt

In “The Ancient Stones of Wales” by Chris Barber and John Godfrey Williams (1989 Blorenge Books), this is given the alternative name the Dragon Stone or Serpent Stone. However, the description given doesn’t match the other posts:

“This stone stands about 2.5 feet out of the ground and is 4 feet long and 2 feet wide and is near a roadway leading to a farm. It is a slatey-blue stone with seams of white quartz a few inches thick and should be called the Serpent Stone according to a local farmer interviewed by J.G.W. in March, 1963.”

Site description from Coflein:

“A stone circle, 24-22m in diameter, comprising eleven earthfast stones, c.0.2m high, and a natural boulder. Eccentric within the circle is a ditched mound, 8.0m in diameter and 0.5m high.”

These are very low stones, suggesting this could as easily be some kind of ring cairn or kerb.

Site description from Coflein:

“A subcircular stone setting, 27.5-25m in diameter, composed of c.15 stones, none more than 0.3m high.”

coflein.gov.uk/en/site/306107/details/SIX+STONES%2C+STONE+CIRCLE/

Seems like the name is hardly accurate!

Mentioned in “The Ancient Stones of Wales” by Chris Barber and John Godfrey Williams (1989 Blorenge Books) as standing on the side of the old railway line – 6 feet high and badly overgrown when visited in July 1985.

Not that this helps the antiquity or otherwise!

From the Coflein description, this sounds not unlike other stones in the area, a squat shape:

“A roughly triangular stone, 1.2m high by 1.6m by 1.3m.”

Mentioned in “The Ancient Stones of Wales” by Chris Barber and John Godfrey Williams (1989 Blorenge Books) as having the names Hoarstone or Oarstone.