Scheduled MonumentsWalesLlwyn du Parc cairn
Prehistoric · Cairn Circle

Llwyn du Parc cairn

Meirionnydd, Wales
Cadw SAM ME240
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Cairn Circle
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
The designation
Reference
Cadw SAM ME240
Authority
Cadw
Designated
2003-04-16
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Llwyn du Parc cairn is a prehistoric cairn circle located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference ME240. The monument sits upon Lower Cambrian bedrock of sandstone and conglomerate, laid down during the Early Cambrian period and now exposed as undifferentiated strata. This geological foundation of interbedded sedimentary rock provided the raw materials for the cairn's construction.

Cairn circles of this type are among Wales's most distinctive prehistoric monuments, typically comprising stone heaps arranged in circular or near-circular patterns. Their precise chronology and function remain subjects of archaeological study, though they frequently cluster in upland regions and are often associated with ritual or burial practice during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.

The monument's survival to the present day reflects both the durability of stone construction and the relative remoteness of many Welsh upland locations. Cadw's protection ensures that Llwyn du Parc cairn remains available for future study and continues to form part of the archaeological record of prehistoric Wales, contributing to our understanding of early settlement, land use and ceremonial practice in the region.

Llwyn du Parc cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference ME240. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Llwyn du Parc cairn?

Llwyn du Parc cairn is a prehistoric cairn circle located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference ME240.

What period does Llwyn du Parc cairn date from?

Llwyn du Parc cairn dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a cairn circle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Llwyn du Parc cairn?

Llwyn du Parc 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 ME240.

What other scheduled monuments are near Llwyn du Parc cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bron-Llety-Ifan cairns and cup-marked rock (7.2 km), Fairbourne Anti-invasion Defences (7.3 km), Enclosure & Settlement 400m East of Cyfannedd Fawr (7.7 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Llwyn du Parc cairn

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Llwyn du Parc cairn's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman Britain
The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
First month just £4.99, then £9.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Llwyn du Parc cairn report
Or see a real report first
The ground beneath

The bedrock under Llwyn du Parc cairn

Llwyn du Parc cairn stands on Lower Cambrian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Early Cambrian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.