The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Pebyll

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00721w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Treherbert
Unitary authority : Rhondda, Cynon, Taff
NGR : SS9109797245
Site Type (preferred type first) : Bronze Age Ring cairn
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
A ring cairn, to the N of a forest track, now consisting of a large low oval stony bank, now overgrown with tall grass and bilberries and encroached on slightly at the N side by planting. GGAT 72.

Description :
A ring cairn, to the N of a forest track, now consisting of a large low oval stony bank, now overgrown with tall grass and bilberries and encroached on slightly at the N side by planting; it seems to be this vegetation rather than damage which has resulted in the disappearance of many of the features described in 1965 by RCAHMW. It is situated on a false crest, so it is not clear how much of the fact that the interior of the monument is roughly horizontal is the result of its site, and how much may be due to artificial terracing up on the E (downhill) side.

The bank is best preserved at the SW side where it rises c0.8m high; elsewhere it does not rise significantly above the level of the interior. A few pieces of sandstone seen in the bank may be the kerbstones described by RCAHMW, and there is a cist at the SW marked by three slabs of sandstone, of which the E and W are upright, the former measuring 0.3m, and the latter 0.45m, with the two separated by a small recumbent slab 0.5m wide. Two larger slabs of sandstone lie a short distance to the S, obviously not in situ. These were noted by RCAHMW as having probably faced an opening 2.8m wide into the ring at this point; there was also another, narrower opening at the NW which its northern facing slab still in situ. These openings can no longer be made out.

The bank was described by RCAHMW as 'varying from 1.5m to 4m in width and [being] up to 0.6m high, [with] on the NE...a stretch of inner kerb 3.7m long, and...traces also on the NE and E of an outer kerb which would give the ring an original width of 1.2m'. There were also 'three quadrangular holes, 1.5-1.8m apart...against the inner face of the bank on the N, perhaps indicating the former positions of upright stones, [whilst] two other holes in the level interior were less certainly stone holes', and were possibly modern; none of these holes is still detectable. 30.8m NE-SW x 29.4m, max height c0.8m. GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites survey 2001.

(1956) Situated well below crest of a hill falling to the S and SE, sheltered from the NW but open in all other directions. The site has been built up in the E and SE to form an overall level with an average diameter of 28.0m. On its upper periphery is a 1.5m wide drystone wall with traces of interior and exterior linings. The wall is cut in the NW by an almost buried lateral slab and in the SE by a pointed orthostat, which has a base of 1.3m, a perpendicular of 1.0m and a thickness of 0.2m. The base is firmly embedded in the wall and slightly to the NW of it is a prostrate slab 1.3m long, 0.9m wide and 0.1m thick. Though the wall is largely level with the interior, it is traceable throughout and has a maximum height of 0.4m in the W where it has been cut by a forestry plough. The cut has done little damage and serves to show that the rim alone is of stone. (Source 03).

(1965/1976) On a shelf in ground falling gently to the E. It is possible that the terraced edge on the E and S may have been built up artificially to level the site. The structure, which is oval rather than circular and measures 24.7m long internally from NE to SW by 22.9m wide, consists of a stony bank varying from 1.5 to 4m in width and up to 0.6m high. On the NE is a stretch of inner kerb 3.7m long, and there are traces also on the NE and E of an outer kerb which would give the ring an original width of 1.2m; but elsewhere kerb stones are no longer visible. The toe of the bank on the SW is damaged by forestry ploughing.

On the S is a damaged entrance about 2.8m wide, with leaning and recumbent slabs perhaps originally set upright as jambs. A much narrower entrance on the NW still has such a slab in position as its NE jamb. In the bank on the SE is a stone cist about 0.6m square, open to the NE. Against the inner face of the bank on the N are three quadrangular holes, 1.5 - 1.8m apart, perhaps indicating the former positions of upright stones. Two other holes in the level interior are less certainly stone holes, and may be modern. (Source 02).

(1972) Pebyll is cited as a ring cairn which is almost certainly a burial rather than a ritual monument. It is compared to another on Crug Du ( SN 35 SE 2 ) which yielded Beaker sherds and probably secondary deposits of collared urns and pygmy cups. (Source 06).

(1986) Situated on SE facing slope. It consists of a flat circular area some 28m across surrounded by a dry stone wall 1.5m high [sic] apparently reverted in stone internally and externally. Several large slabs are visible in the bank. (Source 07).

(1986) The rank grass in the interior makes it difficult now to trace all the detail described by RCAHMW. The entrances are present as described, together with the pits in the interior and the cist in the bank on the SE , but the good section of bank with kerbstones on the NE of the site is not now clear, although there is no reason to believe it has been damaged. Large tussocks seem to be hiding many of the stones. The NW rather than the SW appears to have been slightly encroached upon by forestry ploughing. A number of large stones scattered beyond the fence to the S may originally have had some connection with the site. There seem to be traces on the bank at approximately its most westerly point of another cist facing NW. (Source 09).

(1997) The site remains basically as seen and is undisturbed. There appears to be quite a few more stones, mostly kerbstones , which can be felt with the feet and seen in part among the rank grass, than the RCAHMW mark on their plan. (Source 12).

(1999) Intact, but overgrown. Flat oval area 25m long & 23m wide with bank 0.6m high. Possible inner & outer kerbs visible around much of the feature, some overgrown. South-east edge has stone lined well/cist feature. (Source 01).

Sources :
01/ Forest Enterprise Welsh Heritage Assets Project Phase III
02/ PM list / RCAHM// 1976/ Glam Invent/ p 95 No. 348
03/ MM Record card/ OS/// 1956/ SS 99 NW 3/
04/ MM Record card/ OS/// 1976/ SS 99 NW 3/
05/ MM Record card/ OS/// 1981/ SS 99 NW 3/
06/ PM Desc text// Lynch/ F/ 1972/ Scottish Arch. Journal/ 63
07/ MM Desc text/ CADW/ Burnham/ HB/ 1986/ AM 107
08/ MMAP/ RCAHM// 1992// A 117 - 27 28
10/ MM Desc text/ CADW/ Burnham/ HB/ 1988/ AM 107
11/ MM Desc text/ CADW/ Burnham/ HB/ 1991/ AM 107
12/ MM Desc text/ CADW/ Burnham/ HB/ 1997/ AM 107
09/ MM Desc text/ CADW/ Burnham/ HB/ 1986/ AM 107
Forest Enterprise Welsh Heritage Assets Project Phase III

Events :
E007588 : Afan Valley Adventure Resort, Neath Port Talbot (year : 2017)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 93211

Compiled date :


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