Gwernlas (carnedd)

Gwernlas is a Bronze Age ring cairn near Hirwaun in Rhondda Cynon Taf. It stands on open moorland at grid reference SN 968 098. A ring cairn is a circular stone burial mound built by the Celts. These mounds marked special places for ceremonies or to honour the dead. They belong to the Bronze Age, around 4,000 to 2,500 years ago. On Ordnance Survey maps it appears simply as a ‘Cairn’. This site is worth visiting because it is one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in the region. It was officially recorded by Cadw, the Welsh historic environment service, as SAM GM558. Unlike stone circles from later periods, ring cairns have a different purpose and design. Their circular shape and central setting make them stand out on the moor. Visitors find a low, grass-covered mound surrounded by a ring of stones. The site sits quietly on the open hillside with wide views across the valleys. There are no fences or barriers, so the cairn can be walked around and examined closely. The moorland setting adds to the sense of stepping back into the Bronze Age.