Scheduled MonumentsWalesStone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan
Prehistoric · Stone Circle

Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan

Ceredigion, Wales
Cadw SAM CD136
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Stone Circle
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
The designation
Reference
Cadw SAM CD136
Authority
Cadw
Designated
1979-10-29
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan is a prehistoric stone circle situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CD136. The monument stands upon bedrock of Llandovery age, comprising interbedded sandstone and conglomerate of the Llandovery Rocks formation. These ancient sedimentary deposits underpin the landscape where the circle was constructed, their geology reflecting the shallow marine and coastal depositional environment of the Early Palaeozoic period.

The stone circle belongs to a class of prehistoric monuments that are concentrated in upland regions of Wales and the wider British Isles. Such circles typically date from the Bronze Age, though their precise chronology often remains uncertain without excavation. Their construction required significant communal effort and demonstrates the organisational capacity and shared beliefs of prehistoric communities.

The associated structures at the site complement the central circle, a common feature at such locations that may reflect sequential phases of use or ritual activity. The combination of stone circle and adjacent features provides archaeological evidence for prehistoric settlement patterns and ceremonial practice in the Welsh landscape. The monument's protected status recognises its importance as a record of Bronze Age society and monument-building traditions.

Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CD136. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan?

Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan is a prehistoric stone circle situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CD136.

What period does Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan date from?

Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a stone circle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan?

Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan 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 CD136.

What other scheduled monuments are near Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Troedrhiwhir Mountain ring cairn (6.9 km), Troedrhiwhir standing stone (7.4 km), Cors Blaen Cothi Deserted Rural Settlement (7.5 km).

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Everything a full report reveals about Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan'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.
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The ground beneath

The bedrock under Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan

Stone Circle and Associated Structures on Bryn y Gorlan stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.