CN026

Rhiw Burial Chambers  

 

Designated  

Gwynedd  

Aberdaron  

223776  

328773  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Chambered Long Cairn  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument. The monument consists of the remains of an early Neolithic (c.4,200BC - 3,000BC) chambered long cairn, located on a steep south-east-facing slope. The site consists of two burial chambers and the remains of a long cairn, all of which have been built into a modern field wall. The larger chamber, to the north-west, is no longer connected to the cairn remains, although the field wall does link the two. The capstone of this chamber measures 3.95m in length and 3.35m in width; it is supported at its north-west end by three portal stones which are c.1.37m in height, and at its south-east end by a single stone 0.75m in height. The three portal stones are built into a field bank, which crosses the front of the chamber. The smaller chamber sits at the head of the cairn remains, and has a capstone which measures 2.7m in length and 1.7m in width which partially rests on two low upright stones that are 0.75m in height, the south-eastern end rests on the ground. The cairn is about 27m in length, 6m wide and just over 1m in height and is composed of loose stone; it is incorporated into the field wall on its north-eastern edge. At the south-east of the mound is a single upright slab just visible in the cairn material. The monument is located with views over Porth Neigwl and the southern tip of the Lleyn Peninsula. The significant views are therefore to the south, in an arc from south-east to south-west. This includes the view south-west to the neighbouring contemporary chambered tomb of Bron Heulog. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The features are an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retain significant environmental and structural evidence. Chambered long cairns may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can be further enhanced by their group value. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them.