CD253

Pen y Gurnos Round Barrow  

18/08/2008  

Designated  

Ceredigion  

Llanddewi Brefi  

277780  

251311  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Round Barrow  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument. The monument comprises the remains of a round barrow, which probably dates to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). It is located on top of a prominent NE-SW aligned ridge on Pen y Gurnos mountain overlooking the valley of the Afon Doethie to the W. The earthen barrow is circular in shape on plan and measures c. 20m in diameter and a maximum of 1.5m in height. Part of the original kerbing is visible on the SE side of the barrow. An Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar surmounts the mound. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The feature is an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retains significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of both intact ritual and burial deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by the group value it shares with neighbouring barrows to the N and SW. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. The scheduled area is circular in shape on plan and measures 30m in diameter.