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Mynydd March Hywel Round Cairn is a prehistoric round cairn located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference GM531. The monument sits on bedrock of the South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation, a geological sequence laid down during the Westphalian period. This underlying geology comprises mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone interbedded with coal seams, ironstone and ferricrete, typical of the coalfield landscapes of South Wales.
The cairn represents a Bronze Age burial tradition, when stone mounds were constructed to mark and contain the cremated or inhumed remains of the dead. Round cairns of this type are a characteristic feature of upland areas across Wales, often positioned on prominent summits where they commanded views of the surrounding landscape. The stone construction would have utilised materials available on or near the site.
Like many prehistoric funerary monuments, Mynydd March Hywel would have served both practical and ceremonial functions, serving as a durable burial marker and gathering place for ritual observance. The monument's survival to the present day, despite the industrial history of the South Wales coalfield, underscores its cultural significance. Its statutory protection reflects its importance as evidence of prehistoric settlement and burial practice in Wales.
Mynydd March Hywel Round Cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM531. View the official record →
Mynydd March Hywel Round Cairn is a prehistoric round cairn located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference GM531.
Mynydd March Hywel Round 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.
Mynydd March Hywel Round 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 GM531.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Neath Castle (7.3 km), Neath Roman Site (7.6 km), Court Herbert Cross & Grave Slab (7.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Mynydd March Hywel Round 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.
Mynydd March Hywel Round 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.