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Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow is a prehistoric mound constructed on bedrock of Wenlock age mudstone, siltstone and sandstone in Wales. The barrow belongs to the tradition of round burial monuments that proliferated across Britain and Wales during the Bronze Age, typically serving as focal points for ritual and communal burial over extended periods. The underlying Wenlock rocks, formed during the Silurian period some 425 million years ago, provide a stable geological foundation for the monument's earthwork.
The barrow's construction would have involved the deliberate accumulation of soil and stone, exploiting materials available from the surrounding landscape. Such monuments commonly mark the graves of individuals of high status, and often contain inhumation burials, cremated remains, or both, sometimes accompanied by grave goods reflecting the wealth and craftwork of their period. The monument's survival to the present day reflects its typically favourable location on higher ground.
The site is protected by Cadw, the Welsh heritage monument service, under reference DE042. This statutory designation recognises Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow's importance as an archaeological resource and ensures its preservation for future study. Prehistoric round barrows remain among Wales's most visible archaeological monuments, offering evidence of settlement patterns, social organisation and ritual practices in prehistoric communities.
Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE042. View the official record →
Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow is a prehistoric mound constructed on bedrock of Wenlock age mudstone, siltstone and sandstone in Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE042.
Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a round barrow. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow 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 DE042.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pont Petryal Caerau Circles (2.6 km), Maen Llwyd Standing Stone (2.6 km), Cefn Banog Ancient Village (3.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow'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.
Capel Hiraethog Round Barrow stands on Wenlock Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.