© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw
Cairnfield on Mynydd Eglwysilan is a prehistoric round cairn situated on the high moorland of South Wales. The monument stands on bedrock of the Upper Coal Measures Formation, a Westphalian deposit of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone interspersed with coal, ironstone and ferricrete. This distinctive geology, characteristic of the South Wales coalfield, would have provided both challenges and resources to the communities who constructed the cairn during prehistory.
Round cairns of this type typically served as burial monuments, their stone heaps marking significant individuals or family groups within the landscape. The exposed moorland setting of Cairnfield offered visibility and prominence, making it a focal point within the ancient settlement pattern of Mynydd Eglwysilan. The underlying ferricrete and ironstone deposits would have been visible in the surrounding terrain, influencing the appearance and construction of the monument.
The cairn is protected by Cadw under reference GM352, recognising its importance as evidence of prehistoric burial practice and land use in the upland regions of South Wales. The monument contributes to our understanding of early communities who inhabited the challenging terrain of the coalfield districts, and their relationship with the distinctive geological landscape that shaped their world.
Cairnfield on Mynydd Eglwysilan is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM352. View the official record →
Cairnfield on Mynydd Eglwysilan is a prehistoric round cairn situated on the high moorland of South Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM352.
Cairnfield on Mynydd Eglwysilan dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a round cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cairnfield on Mynydd Eglwysilan is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is GM352.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Caerphilly Iron Furnace (5.3 km), Tomen y Clawdd (6.3 km), Pen-y-Coedcae Roman Camp (6.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cairnfield on Mynydd Eglwysilan's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Cairnfield on Mynydd Eglwysilan stands on South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation, bedrock that formed in the Westphalian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, coal, ironstone and ferricrete.