RD119

Cwm y Saeson Standing Stone  

 

Designated  

Powys  

St. Harmon  

295077  

276976  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Standing Stone  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument. The monument comprises the remains of a standing stone, which probably dates to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). The Cwm y Saeson Standing Stone sits on nearly level ground on the northern side of the bottom of a small east-west valley, at the point where it passes between distinctive steep hills. The stone is c.2.15m wide north-west to south east by c.0.42m at the base and c.1.8m high; it tapers somewhat towards the top. A second stone, measuring c.2.23m by 0.93m by 0.15m thick (as now seen), lies prostrate at the foot of the first, on its eastern side; the stones may originally have formed a pair. A hollow way, which is probably later in date, runs east-west to the north of the stones. In 1913 a local tradition was recorded suggesting that there may originally have been another 12 standing stones in this valley. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. It 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 intact burial or ritual deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. Standing stones are often 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.