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Coed Ddu ring cairn is a prehistoric monument situated in Wales on bedrock of the South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation. The underlying geology comprises mudstone, siltstone and sandstone interspersed with coal seams and ironstone, a landscape shaped during the Westphalian period. This substantial coal-bearing bedrock would have influenced both the availability of stone for construction and the broader character of the surrounding terrain during the Bronze Age.
The ring cairn consists of a circular arrangement of stones, a monument type characteristic of the Bronze Age in Britain. Such structures typically served ceremonial or funerary purposes, often marking significant locations within the prehistoric landscape. The form differs from simpler cairns through its distinctive ringwork design, reflecting the architectural sophistication of later prehistoric communities.
Coed Ddu ring cairn is protected by Cadw under reference number GM592, recognising its importance as part of Wales's archaeological heritage. The monument stands as evidence of Bronze Age settlement and ritual practice in South Wales, contributing to understanding of how prehistoric peoples utilised and modified their landscape.
Coed Ddu ring cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM592. View the official record →
Coed Ddu ring cairn is a prehistoric monument situated in Wales on bedrock of the South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM592.
Coed Ddu ring cairn dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a ring cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Coed Ddu ring 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 GM592.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pen-Rhiw-Angharad Round Cairns (7.2 km), Blaen-Cwmbach Camp (7.5 km), Blaen-Cwmbach Earthwork (7.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Coed Ddu ring 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.
Coed Ddu ring 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.