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Cefn Esgair-Carnau round cairn (S) is a prehistoric round cairn situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference BR325. The monument sits upon bedrock of Upper Devonian age, specifically interbedded sandstone and conglomerate formed during the Late Devonian period. This geological foundation would have been familiar to the prehistoric communities who constructed the cairn, providing local stone sources for its building.
Round cairns of this type are typically Bronze Age in date, built as burial monuments to mark the final resting places of individuals or small family groups. The cairn's form—a mound of stone heaped over a central grave or graves—would have been visually prominent within its landscape, serving as both a functional tomb and a territorial marker within the communities that built it.
The monument's survival to the present day, despite its exposure on the open Welsh uplands, testifies to the durability of its stone construction. Its protected status ensures that this important prehistoric monument remains available for future study and for visitors to understand the burial practices and settlement patterns of Bronze Age Wales.
Cefn Esgair-Carnau round cairn (S) is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference BR325. View the official record →
Cefn Esgair-Carnau round cairn (S) is a prehistoric round cairn situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference BR325.
Cefn Esgair-Carnau round cairn (S) 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.
Cefn Esgair-Carnau round cairn (S) 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 BR325.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pillow Mound at Bryn y Gwyddel (8 km), Iron Ore Scours and Patch Workings at Winch Fawr, Merthyr Tydfil (8.6 km), Site of Hirwaun Ironworks (9.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cefn Esgair-Carnau round cairn (S)'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.
Cefn Esgair-Carnau round cairn (S) stands on Upper Devonian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Late Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.