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Carn Caglau cairn is a prehistoric round cairn located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference GM577. The monument sits on bedrock belonging to the South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation, a Westphalian-age geological sequence comprising mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, coal, ironstone and ferricrete. This solid foundation of industrial-era geology contrasts sharply with the monument's Bronze Age origins, when burial cairns of this type were constructed as conspicuous markers across the Welsh landscape.
Round cairns such as Carn Caglau typically date to the Bronze Age and served as burial monuments for significant members of prehistoric communities. Built from stone gathered from the surrounding terrain, these structures were designed to be visually prominent features in the landscape, often positioned on higher ground or ridges where they remained visible for considerable distances. The monument's survival to the present day reflects both its robust construction and the protective designation afforded by Cadw.
The archaeological significance of cairns lies not only in their architectural form but in their relationship to the contemporary landscape. Carn Caglau's situation on Coal Measures bedrock means the local stone would have been readily available for construction, though the specific character and quality of materials used would reflect the immediate geological and topographical conditions of this Welsh site.
Carn Caglau cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM577. View the official record →
Carn Caglau cairn is a prehistoric round cairn located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference GM577.
Carn Caglau cairn 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.
Carn Caglau cairn 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 GM577.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Clawdd Mawr, Mynydd Caerau (6.6 km), Mynydd Caerau Round Cairns (7 km), Cefn yr Argoed Camp (7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Carn Caglau cairn'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.
Carn Caglau cairn 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.