Scheduled MonumentsWalesWaun y Gwair Cairn
Prehistoric · Round Cairn

Waun y Gwair Cairn

Breconshire, Wales
Cadw SAM BR278
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Round Cairn
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Waun y Gwair Cairn is a prehistoric round cairn located in Breconshire, Wales, designated as a scheduled ancient monument under Cadw reference SAM BR278. The monument dates to the Bronze Age and represents the funerary and ritual practices of prehistoric communities in the Brecon Beacons region. The cairn consists of a circular mound of stones constructed over a burial or ceremonial deposit, typical of Bronze Age funerary monuments found throughout Wales. Such cairns served as enduring markers of burial sites and would have functioned as focal points for ritual activity within the prehistoric landscape.

Waun y Gwair Cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference BR278. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Waun y Gwair Cairn?

Waun y Gwair Cairn is a prehistoric round cairn located in Breconshire, Wales, designated as a scheduled ancient monument under Cadw reference SAM BR278. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference BR278.

What period does Waun y Gwair Cairn date from?

Waun y Gwair 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.

Who is responsible for protecting Waun y Gwair Cairn?

Waun y Gwair 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 BR278.

What other scheduled monuments are near Waun y Gwair Cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Abercanaid haystack boiler (8.7 km), Merthyr Common Round Cairns (8.9 km), Gelligaer Common Roman Road (9.1 km).

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