Scheduled MonumentsWalesPen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn
Prehistoric · Platform Cairn

Pen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn

Breconshire, Wales
Cadw SAM BR311
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Platform Cairn
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Pen y Gadair Fawr is a platform cairn located in Breconshire, Wales, dating to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age period. The monument consists of a substantial stone platform with an associated cairn structure, representative of the ritual and funerary practices of prehistoric communities in the Welsh uplands. Platform cairns of this type served ceremonial and burial functions, likely marking significant places within the landscape and facilitating communal gatherings or ritual activities. The site's elevated position reflects the deliberate placement of such monuments within prominent locations, demonstrating the importance of visual prominence and territorial assertion in prehistoric sacred geography.

Pen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference BR311. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Pen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn?

Pen y Gadair Fawr is a platform cairn located in Breconshire, Wales, dating to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference BR311.

What period does Pen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn date from?

Pen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a platform cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Pen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn?

Pen y Gadair Fawr platform 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 BR311.

What other scheduled monuments are near Pen y Gadair Fawr platform cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Darren ring cairn (7.6 km), Cwm Beusych Deserted Rural Settlement (8 km), Crug Hywel Camp (8.1 km).

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