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Shepherd's Tump is a round barrow, a burial monument dating to the Bronze Age, situated in Wales and protected by Cadw. The barrow sits upon bedrock of Ludlow Rocks formation, comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone laid down in the Ludlow period. This Palaeozoic geology underlies the monument and would have formed a relatively stable foundation for prehistoric construction.
Round barrows were raised over cremated or inhumed burials, often accompanied by grave goods, and represent one of the most widespread monument types across Bronze Age Britain and Wales. Their creation reflected significant social investment in commemoration of the dead, typically undertaken by communities with established territorial claims. Shepherd's Tump follows this tradition in its form and placement within the Welsh landscape.
The monument is designated Cadw reference RD253 and remains an important archaeological resource. Its preservation enables future study of Bronze Age funerary practices and settlement patterns in Wales. The barrow contributes to understanding how prehistoric communities selected their locations, utilising the local geology and topography in decisions about where to establish these enduring markers of identity and memory.
Shepherd's Tump round barrow is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference RD253. View the official record →
Shepherd's Tump is a round barrow, a burial monument dating to the Bronze Age, situated in Wales and protected by Cadw. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference RD253.
Shepherd's Tump 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.
Shepherd's Tump 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 RD253.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Llannerch cup-marked rock (6.8 km), Graig Camp (7.4 km), The Fedw Stone Circle 360m W of Llanboidy Wood (7.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Shepherd's Tump 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.
Shepherd's Tump round barrow stands on Ludlow Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ludlow. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.