GM279

Foel Fynyddau Round Cairn  

02/02/1960  

Designated  

Neath Port Talbot  

Pelenna  

278278  

193595  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Round Cairn  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument comprises the remains a burial cairn, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). It is situated on the summit of Foel Fynyddau at 371m above OD with extensive views in all directions. The cairn is circular on plan and measures 19.2m in diameter by 0.9m high. Robbing in the centre has resulted in an oval hollow 6.7m by 5.5m and 0.6m deep; the stones within are reddened by fire, possibly from the use of the cairn as a beacon. On the southern edge of the hollow is an Ordnance Survey trig point. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The monument is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of both intact burial or ritual deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. Cairns may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.