CM256

Tair Carn Isaf Cairns  

06/11/1992  

Designated  

Carmarthenshire  

Cwmamman  

268308  

216806  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Round Cairn  

Prehistoric  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument comprises the remains of four much disturbed grit stone rubble cairns which probably date to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC) and which are situated towards the south west end of the hogback summit of Tair Carn Isaf. The easternmost cairn measures c 12m in diameter and is up to 1.2m high. The second cairn and best preserved cairn lies 65m to the south west and measures c 15m in diameter and is 1.8m high. A further115m to the south west the third cairn measures 20m in diameter and is 2.2m high. The easternmost cairn is approximately 300m to the east of the others and measures c 9m in diameter and is 1.0m high. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The features are an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retain 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 cairns importance is enhanced by their group value and for their comparison with the very well-preserved cairns on Tair Carn Uchaf, 1km to the North East. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.