The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Cairn, Llanmadoc Hill 13

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00018w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS4400392715
Site Type (preferred type first) : Bronze Age Cairn
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
A loose heap of sub-angular sandstone and quartz conglomerate blocks, mainly <0.1-0.3m, with smaller stones predominating; top partially overgrown with grass. A pile of stones on top, 0.9m high, is probably a modern walkers cairn. GGAT 72. (gm579)

Description :
A loose heap of sub-angular sandstone and quartz conglomerate blocks, mainly <0.1-0.3m, with smaller stones predominating; top partially overgrown with grass. A pile of stones on top, 0.9m high, is probably a modern walkers cairn, as suggested by previous descriptions (from 1956). Possible quartz conglomerate kerbstone 0.7m long x 0.2m wide on E side. An outer line of stones is visible on the E and S sides (9.2m beyond present edge of cairn on S side), which is possibly original extent of cairn or an outer ring. There is recent damage to cairn, comprising a slight hollow on W side and 2 dry stone wall 'sheep-shelters' on N side c1.0m high, the E one of which is cutting into central mound. A cairn in a rather diffuse cemetery (PRN 5070w) on the E end of Llanmadoc Hill. 21.0m E-W x 20.3m; c1.4m high (plus 0.9m) GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites survey 2001.

(1956) The cairn is spread and mutilated and is 29.0m in diameter though much of the S half has been dug away almost to ground level. It has a maximum height of 1.5m including a pile of stones 4.0m in diameter in the centre of which is the result of modern rebuilding. A single large conglomerate block on the E. , 10.0m from the centre may have formed part of a retaining circle . There is no sign of a cist ( Source 02 )
(1967/1976) Llanmadoc Hill in W Gower, mostly good examples of stone cairns robbed almost to ground level. All these cairns (6-19W) are in positions with extensive views, especially to N and S. In 1867 Davies and O'Donovan counted 19 cairns on the hill, but only 14 were found by the Royal Commission. Some of the cairns appear to have been excavated in 1868. Five sherds, representing at least three separate urns, presumably came from one or more of the cairns.
18W occupies the eastern summit of the hill. It is a large robbed cairn of red sandstone, which when entire must have been an impressive monument. It stands on level ground at the edge of a steep fall to the N, and consists of a stony area 27.4m in diameter, with a ragged grass-grown rim about .3m high. It is mostly robbed to ground level, but considerable quantities of the cairn material survive in the NE half and around the centre, reaching a height of .9m above ground level and an external height of 1.8m on the N owing to the fall of the ground in that direction. A modern cairn on the summit gives it an additional 1.2m in height. ( Source 01 )
(1971) The cairn remains unchanged since 1956 ( source 04 )

Sources :
RCAHMW , 1976 , An inventory of the ancient monuments in Glamorgan Volume 1: Pre-Norman part1 The stone and bronze ages
01/PM List/RCAHM/1976/Glam Invent Vol 1 Pt 1 p74
02/MM Photo/GGAT/Lewis W/1979-80
04/MM Record Card/OS/1977/SS 49 SW 29
05/MM Map/DAT/James T/1986/2.9
06/MM Map/DAT/James T/1986/3.13
07/PM Mention/Ward A/1988/PPS/54 pp153-72
08/MM Map/GGAT/1991/A114-9-10
02/MM Record Card/OS/1957/SS 49 SW 29

Events :
E002970 : Llanmadoc Hill and Tankey Lake Moor. DBA (year : 2001)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 6-17w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 19w

Compiled date :


March 18, 2025, 9:13 pm - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
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