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Great Rhos round barrow is a prehistoric round barrow located in Wales and protected as an ancient monument by Cadw under reference RD254. The barrow sits upon bedrock of Ludlow Rocks formation, comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone laid down in the Ludlow age. This solid foundation would have provided a stable base for the mound's construction in the Bronze Age, when such monuments served as burial places for prominent members of prehistoric communities.
The barrow's location on Ludlow geology reflects the wider settlement patterns of Bronze Age Wales, where communities utilised the varied terrain and stone resources of their landscape. The underlying strata of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone would have influenced local water drainage and soil formation, factors affecting both the positioning of the monument and the broader agricultural landscape surrounding it.
As a round barrow, Great Rhos represents a significant form of prehistoric funerary architecture. These monuments were constructed as earthen or stone mounds, typically covering inhumations or cremations accompanied by grave goods. The barrow's survival and official protection recognise its importance as a physical record of Bronze Age burial practices and social organisation in Wales.
Great Rhos round barrow is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference RD254. View the official record →
Great Rhos round barrow is a prehistoric round barrow located in Wales and protected as an ancient monument by Cadw under reference RD254.
Great Rhos 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.
Great Rhos 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 RD254.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cae-Banal Castle Mound (5.3 km), Llannerch cup-marked rock (5.9 km), Cwm-Maerdy Standing Stone (6.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Great Rhos 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.
Great Rhos round barrow stands on Ludlow Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ludlow. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.