CM189

Ffos-y-Maen Standing Stone  

13/04/1961  

Designated  

Carmarthenshire  

Llanpumsaint  

241454  

228299  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Standing Stone  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument comprises the remains of a standing stone, which probably dates to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). It measures 2.6m high, 1.3mwide and 0.8m deep at the base, is roughly rectangular in cross section and has an irregular flat top. In 1963 the stone fell and was re-erected, excavation at that time revealed an irregular cobbled area c 3 to 3.3m across surrounding the stone socket as well as a hollow 0.5m to the north that contained charcoal. 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.