Scheduled Monuments- Full Report
Summary Description of a Scheduled Monument
Reference Number
CD232
Name
Nant Geifaes Cairn
Date of Designation
14/11/2007
Status
Designated
Location
Unitary Authority
Ceredigion
Community
Melindwr
Easting
273174
Northing
283313
Broad Class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Site Type
Ring Cairn
Period
Prehistoric
Description
Summary Description and Reason for Designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.
The monument comprises the remains of a prehistoric ring cairn, probably dating to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). It is located on top of an E-facing spur and overlooks the confluence of Nant Geifaes and Nant Glan-dwr. The structure consists of a low, turf-covered stone bank measuring c. 12m in diameter. The bank is circular in shape on plan and measures c. 0.35m in height and a uniform 2m in width. The interior of the cairn is lower than the external ground level beyond the bank. A later rectangular-shaped sheepfold is located 2m to the E.
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. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of both intact burial or ritual deposits, together with structural evidence. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by the group value formed by the association of the cairn with standing stone pairs to the NNW and W respectively.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is circular in shape and measures 20m in diameter. No part of the later sheepfold is included within the scheduled area.