Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Ring Cairn 120m north east of Heol Ddu

A Scheduled Monument in Gorslas (Gors-las), Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.8166 / 51°48'59"N

Longitude: -4.1179 / 4°7'4"W

OS Eastings: 254112

OS Northings: 215230

OS Grid: SN541152

Mapcode National: GBR DQ.WM7H

Mapcode Global: VH4J7.KLWR

Entry Name: Ring Cairn 120m NE of Heol Ddu

Scheduled Date: 15 March 1984

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 2166

Cadw Legacy ID: CM230

Schedule Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary

Category: Ring cairn

Period: Prehistoric

County: Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)

Community: Gorslas (Gors-las)

Traditional County: Carmarthenshire

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a ring cairn of earth and stone, which probably date to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC), and is defined by a circular earthwork some 30m diameter, bisected by a mature hedge. On the west of the hedge the monument survives as a curving bank. A trial excavation showed that this was formed by c 6m wide bank of limestone boulders and stones, surrounding a central circular area. To the eastern side of the hedge the central hollow has been in-filled in modern times, so that it now appears as a raised platform.

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. Ring cairns may be 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.

Source: Cadw

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.