The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Cefn Celfi Standing Stone 1

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00516w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Cilybebyll
Unitary authority : Neath Port Talbot
NGR : SN7418903102
Site Type (preferred type first) : Bronze Age Standing stone
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
One of a pair of standing stone fragments, the other being PRN 2668w. It seems likely that they may originally have formed the same monument, so they have not been given a group number. PRN 516w is the in-situ base of standing stone. GGAT 72

Description :
One of a pair of standing stone fragments, the other being PRN 2668w. It seems likely that they may originally have formed the same monument, so they have not been given a group number. PRN 516w is the in-situ base of standing stone, of which the upper part has been broken off; wide faces to NW and SE. It consists of a roughly rectangular block of sandstone, with bedding planes visible on short sides; parts of the upper planes on the NW side have sheared off. In a hedgebank, but lies at angle to it, indicating that it is unlikely to be a boundary stone, and was probably there before the bank.
There were original three standing stones or fragments of standing stone, interpreted in an early Welsh poem as representing the graves of heroes (Jones 1936; Jones 1967, 133-4).
Reference: Jones, T, 1936, Y tri bedd yng Nghefn Celfi, Bull Board Celtic Stud 8, 239-42
Jones, T, 1967, Stanzas of the Graves: Sir John Rees Memorial Lecture, Proc Brit Acad 53, 110-31 0.85x0.4m, 0.74m high GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites survey 2001.

(1969/1976) Two stones near Cefn Celfi, E. of Pontardawe, in enclosed rough pasture at about 120 m above O.D. The more northerly is partly embedded in a hedge - bank, which lies between it and the other stone. Both are almost rectangular in section, measuring 0.6 m by 0.45 m and 0.8 m by 0.5 m respectively; they now stand 0.7 m and 0.5 m high respectively, but the tops have been blasted.
Attention was drawn to these stones by Professor Thomas Jones, who records a reliable tradition of the former existence of a third stone, and convincingly identifies them with the traditional graves of Cynon, Cynfael and Cynfeli on the Cefn Celfi, mentioned in the early Welsh ' Stanzas of the Graves ' , probably dating from the 9th or 10th century. The persons named are not identifable. (Source 0 )
(1977) As RCAHM. (Source 04 )
(1982) Stone orientated roughly E - W . There is a proposal to develop both fields for housing after 1985 . ( Source 05 )
(1989) The stones are still unchanged . No sign of development as yet. ( Source 07 )
(1996) The southern stone seems to have subsided quite considerably towards the SW since last seen in 1989. The original lean towards the south remains , but the stone now leans quite considerably towards the west as well . No sign of damage. Suspect vehicle ' whack '. ( Source 09 )

Sources :
Unknown , 2006 , Digital photograph (16); Cefn Celfi Standing Stone 1
01/ PM list// RCAHM/// 1976/ Glam Invent/ p 122 No. 542
02/ PM Desc text//// Nov. 1936/ BBCS/ VIII , iii , pp 239 - 42
03/ PM Desc text// CADW/ 1985//
04/ MM Record card/ OS/// 1977/ SN 70 SW 14/
05/ MM Record card/ OS/// 1982/ SN 70 SW 14/
06/ MM Record card/ OS/// 1985/ SN 70 SW 14/
07/ MM Desc text/ CADW/ Burnham/ HB/ 1989/ AM 107 342/
08/ MMAP/ RCAHM// 1992// A 116 - 04
09/ MM Desc text/ CADW/ Burnham/ HB/ 1996/ AM 107
10 Desc Text/Cadw/Full Management Report/2007/Copy in further information file.

Events :

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 300172 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/300172/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 2668w

Compiled date :


March 29, 2025, 10:06 am - 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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