The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Carn Y Defaid

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 02081g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Blaenavon
Unitary authority : Torfaen
NGR : SO27050997
Site Type (preferred type first) : Bronze Age Barrow cemetery

Summary :
Part of barrow cemetery 8442g. A large circular mound, one of a pair. The cairn is quite high with a regularly defined perimeter, although no kerb-stones are visible. The mound consists of cobble and boulder sized stone. The cairn is situated on a raised natural outcrop.

Description :
Part of barrow cemetery 8442g. A large circular mound, one of a pair. The cairn is quite high with a regularly defined perimeter, although no kerb-stones are visible. The mound consists of cobble and boulder sized stone. The cairn is situated on a raised natural outcrop. The cairn's interior is heavily disturbed; to the central N end is a hollow 1.6m in depth which may have contained a cist although all evidence of such has been destroyed by the excavation of the hollow. To the central S end is another hollow although this is only 0.4m in depth.
Dimensions: diameter 20m (max); height 3.4m (max)
(1957) Two cairns a) SO 27060997 and b) SO 27081003, situated on the crest of a hill. Cairn a) has a diameter of 16m and a height to the N of 1.8m. In its top is a hollow, 0.8m deep, with an average diameter of 6m. Cairn b) has a diameter of 14m and a height of 1.3m to the S. In its top is a hole, 2m wide and 1.1m deep. (Source 02)

(1975) At 485m OD on common land on the NE edge of Mynydd y garn fawr, sloping steeply into a side valley of the Usk. The site is about 1.5km NE of Blaenavon; and a typical example of false-cresting. It appears that the mound was c.3m wider and 1m higher than today. With a diameter of c.11m, a height of c.0.9m uphill and 1.5m downhill. (Source 05)

(1987) The two cairns stand on open moorland on the summit of the ridge S of Blorenge. Cairn 2081g (a) is the largest. It is a large mound, c.16m in diameter and 1.8m high, composed of large stones. On its E side the mound spills over onto lower ground and is 2.5m high from the lower level. In the middle is a large hole, c.6m in diameter and c.1.5m deep. This is an old hole. On the SW side a small shelter of low walls has been built out of the stones of the cairn. (Source 04)
GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Project 2003

Sources :
05/PM List/NCC/1980/Stat Sites Nat Park 1949/Gwent pp6,9,map
01/PM List/Lillie MC/1991/Bronze Age Gwent (University of Nottingham dissertation) p59
02/MM Record Card/OS/1957/SO 20 NE 7
04/PM Desc Text/Cadw/Whittle E/1987/AM107
05/MM Record Card/OS/1975/SO 20 NE/
Pm desc text/Evans EM/2003/GGAT 72 Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Sites Project
03/PM List/NCC/1980/Stat Sites Nat Park 1949/Gwent pp6,9,map

Events :

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 3783g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 8442g

Compiled date : 16-02-1988


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