Scheduled MonumentsWalesSt Lythans Chambered Tomb
Prehistoric · Chambered long barrow

St Lythans Chambered Tomb

Wales
Cadw SAM GM008
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Chambered long barrow
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

St Lythans Chambered Tomb is a Neolithic chambered long barrow located near Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, dating to approximately 3500 BCE or earlier. The monument comprises a stone burial chamber constructed beneath an earthen mound, with a distinctive capstone weighing around twenty-five tonnes forming the roof of the chamber, supported by substantial upright stone pillars. The site represents an important example of megalithic funerary architecture characteristic of the Neolithic period in south Wales and demonstrates the considerable engineering capabilities and communal labour investment of early agricultural communities. The tomb functioned as a communal burial place and ritual centre, containing deposits of human remains alongside artefactual material, reflecting the religious and social significance of such monuments in Neolithic society.

St Lythans Chambered Tomb is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM008. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is St Lythans Chambered Tomb?

St Lythans Chambered Tomb is a Neolithic chambered long barrow located near Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, dating to approximately 3500 BCE or earlier. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM008.

What period does St Lythans Chambered Tomb date from?

St Lythans Chambered Tomb dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a chambered long barrow. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting St Lythans Chambered Tomb?

St Lythans Chambered Tomb 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 GM008.

What other scheduled monuments are near St Lythans Chambered Tomb?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Highlight Medieval House Site (2.5 km), Moulton Roman Site (3.8 km), Barry Castle (5.1 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.

Research the area around St Lythans Chambered Tomb