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Capel Maethlon round barrow is a prehistoric burial mound located in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. The barrow sits on bedrock composed of Llandovery rocks, a formation of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone dating to the Llandovery period. This geology is typical of many areas in Wales, where such sedimentary foundations underlie Bronze Age and earlier funerary monuments.
Round barrows of this type were constructed during the Bronze Age and earlier periods as ceremonial burial sites, often marking the final resting places of individuals of social standing. The form and construction technique—a mound raised over a burial pit or chamber—remained consistent across Britain for many centuries, though local variations reflected available materials and regional traditions.
The barrow's preservation under official protection reflects its archaeological significance in understanding prehistoric settlement patterns and burial practices in Wales. The site's location on Llandovery bedrock places it within a landscape shaped by ancient geology, providing context for the choices made by the communities who built and used this monument thousands of years ago.
Capel Maethlon round barrow is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference ME230. View the official record →
Capel Maethlon round barrow is a prehistoric burial mound located in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference ME230.
Capel Maethlon 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 Maethlon 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 ME230.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bryn Dinas Cairn (1.5 km), Dysyrnant Platform Cairn (2.5 km), Castell Cynfal, Bryn Crug (3.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Capel Maethlon 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 Maethlon round barrow stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.