Some landscape context for the settlement at the head of the Rhondda Fawr. The site occupies the light green plateau on the hill to the right of centre.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
thesweetcheat
Llyn Fawr from the cliffs of Craig y Llyn. The whole of the Fforest Fawr range (many with Bronze Age summit cairns) and the unmistakable twin peaks of Corn Du and Pen y Fan provide the wonderful backdrop.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
The approx. positions of the three cairns in their upland landscape. The viewpoint is Ffos Toncenglau to the west.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
Curving settlement wall. The steep valley opposite is that of Nant Carnfoesen, itself named for the Bronze Age cairn on the ridge above.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
Stonework stands several courses high in places.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
Not somewhere to roll out of bed the wrong way.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
Two simple unenclosed hut circles perched just above the escarpment edge.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
Looking east across one of the well-preserved IA hut circles.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
Eastern part of the settlement, with terrific view down the Rhondda Fawr.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
The plan of the settlement in the parking/picnic area to the NE of the site. The orientation of the plan has southeast (approx) at the top.
Image credit: A. Brookes (31.5.2013)
Three cairns on the lip of the escarpment at the north of Hirwaun Common, enjoying extensive views of the mountains.
Coflein descriptions:
Twyn Canwyllyr (SN9375304253)
Small cairn of 2m diameter and only 0.2m high. Moss covered. Small stones. Placed on a ridge with extensive views N to Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains to NW.
Pictures here.
Craig-y-Bwlch (SN94190354)
A cairn on the summit of Craig-y-Bwlch on a ridge with extensive views north to the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. It is 10m in diameter and 1m high and flat in the centre where stones are exposed. A possible cist capstone is visible in the central hollow.
Pictures here.
Tarren y Bwlch (SN94810337)
Tarren-y-Bwlch Cairn is a round barrow 8m in diameter and 1m high. In the centre is a hollow 2m in diameter and 0.5m deep. It is prominently sited on a ridge with extensive views northwards to the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.
Picture here.
Some context with other prehistoric sites of the Cotswold edge (pointers are approximate!). The viewpoint is Cam Long Down, near Dursley.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The northern end of the northwestern rampart. The generally featureless fort interior is fenced off and grazed.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
Approaching the eastern point of the fort, long the southwestern ramparts. G/F provides scale, Peaked Down provides the conical backdrop.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The view over the southwestern ramparts, towards Downham Hill and Dursley. The Tyndale Monument at North Nibley, near Brackenbury Ditches hillfort, can just be seen far left, the Vale of Severn extreme right.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The curving southern end of the SE rampart.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
Looking SSE along the eastern ramparts.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The inside of the lintel. Once inside, the height of the roofing slabs is sufficient to allow you to stand fairly upright (depending on your height!).
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The interior of the SE chamber, the darkest part of the monument as its entrance faces away from any natural light filtering in. Note the enormous uprights (and the irritating graffiti on the roofing slab).
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
Late Spring at Hetty Pegler’s Tump.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
Some landscape context for the barrow (centre, to the right of the trees), seen from the south and showing the steep escarpment slope immediately below the barrow. The Vale of Severn and the ubiquitous May Hill can be seen on the far left.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
From the SSE. The barrow still provides a focal point for visitors.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The barrow from the north, shortly after emerging from the woods around Soldier’s Grave round barrow.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
Sizeable limestone slab beside the barrow.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The excavation scoop in the barrow.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The bluebell-filled beech woods around the barrow are lovely at this time of year.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
Soldier’s Grave round barrow in Spring splendour.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
The steep approach to the long barrow (dead ahead) along the Cotswold Way.
Image credit: A. Brookes (27.5.2013)
Stradey Wood hillfort, showing the relative prominence of the site to its surroundings.
Image credit: A. Brookes (25.5.2013)
Posted to show some landscape context. Although not the highest hill on the Gower Peninsula, Llanmadoc Hill utterly dominates the skyline of North Gower when seen from across the river in Carmarthenshire, making it an obvious place for a Bronze Age cairn.
Image credit: A. Brookes (25.5.2013)
The northern flanks of Pen-y-Gaer sloping steeply above the village of Pen-clawdd. Seen across the Loughor/Afon Llwchwr from Carmarthenshire.
Image credit: A. Brookes (25.5.2013)
Group of three cairns on Mynydd Ty’n-tyle, on the ridge between the valleys of Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach. Coflein descriptions (north-south):
Cefn-y-Rhondda Cairn III (SS99189644)
A centrally depressed stony mound, 7.0m in diameter and 0.5m high.
Cefn-y-Rhondda Cairn II (SS99299631)
A denuded probable round cairn, although part of the ‘kerb’ on the west side appears to be bedrock. It is approximately 11m in diameter and up to 0.7m high on the west side and has an exposed slab in the centre. Set on a natural plateau, it has views across the other mountain tops but not to the valleys.
Cefn-y-Rhondda Cairn I (SS99279629)
A round cairn, 5m in diameter and up to 0.5m high. It is grass covered and in the centre is a 1m square depression with a possible cist wall exposed. Set on a natural plateau, it has views across the other mountain tops but not to the valleys.
Pair of small cairns, possibly clearance rather than sepulchral, on Mynydd yr Eglwys, on the ridge between the valleys of Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach.
Coflein descriptions (NE to SW):
Mynydd yr Eglwys Cairn II (SS98199640)
A small cairn, 4m diameter and 0.5m high, and one of a pair. It is grass-covered but there are stones visible. It is probably a clearance cairn.
Mynydd yr Eglwys Cairn I (SS98159636)
A small cairn, 3m diameter and 0.5m high, and one of a pair. It is grass covered, but there are stones visible. It is probably a clearance cairn.
Pairs of cairns with disturbed cists on Tarren Maerdy, on the ridge between the valleys of Rhondda Fawr (to the south) and Rhondda Fach (north).
Coflein descriptions:
Tarren Maerdy Cairn I (SS97959720)
A round cairn approximately 9m diameter and 0.7m high. In the centre is a cist defined on three sides by pitched slabs, with smaller packing stones behind, 1.25 x 0.5m and 0.7m deep. The cairn is set back from the brow of the hill, and therefore there is no view to the valley below, only the hill opposite.
Tarren Maerdy Cairn II (SS98049709)
A mound on the brow of a hill overlooking the Rhondda Fechan valley to the the north-east. It is approximately 4m in diameter and grass covered but with several boulders, including one pitched slab that possibly lined a cist.
Showing the proximity of the stone to the nearby stream (bottom right).
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)
The stone from its “pointy” end.
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)
The edge of the stone (now its bottom edge) is very smoothed and rounded, as if by rubbing over a long period. Whether this occurred while the stone was erect or since it fell, I don’t know.
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)
The stone from its “chunky” end.
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)
Other sites in the area. The blue dot due north of Arthur’s Stone on the plan set us directly on the trail of Pentre House.
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)
Gotta love that wonderful curving passage.
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)
Weathered legs, something me and Arthur’s Stone have in common.
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)
It’s easy to fixate on the stones and overlook the substantial mound here.
Image credit: A. Brookes (19.5.2013)