Parc Cwm Long Cairn
Gower Peninsula, United Kingdom
Parc Cwm long cairn, also known as Parc le Breos burial chamber, is a partly restored Neolithic chambered tomb, identified as a Severn-Cotswold type of chambered long barrow. The cromlech, a megalithic burial chamber, was built around 5800 years ago, during the early Neolithic.
A trapezoidal cairn of rubble – the upper part of the cromlech and its earth covering now removed – about 72 feet long by 43 feet (at its widest), is revetted by a low dry-stone wall. A bell-shaped, south-facing forecourt, formed by the wall, leads to a central passageway lined with limestone slabs set on end. Human remains had been placed in the two pairs of stone chambers that lead from the passageway. Corpses may have been placed in nearby caves until they decomposed, when the bones were moved to the tomb.
The cromlech was discovered in 1869 by workmen digging for road stone. An excavation later that year revealed human bones (now known to have belonged to at least 40 people), animal remains, and Neolithic pottery. Samples from the site show the tomb to have been in use for between 300 and 800 years. North-West European lifestyles changed around 4000 BCE, from the nomadic lives of the hunter-gatherer, to a settled life of agricultural farming: the Neolithic Revolution. However, analysis of the human remains found at Parc Cwm long cairn show the people interred in the cromlech continued to be either hunter-gatherers or herders, rather than agricultural farmers.
Parc Cwm long cairn lies in a former medieval deer park, established in the 1220s CE by the Marcher Lord of Gower as Parc le Breos – an enclosed area of about 2,000 acres (810 ha), now mainly farmland. The cromlech is on the floor of a dry narrow limestone gorge containing about 500 acres (2.0 km2) of woodland. Free pedestrian access is via an asphalt track leading from the park's entrance, which has free parking for 12–15 cars about 230 m from the site. Parc Cwm long cairn is maintained by Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment division.
Prehistoric and archaeological sites in United Kingdom
Unnamed Road, Gower Peninsula, United Kingdom
See all sites in Gower Peninsula
Founded: 3800 BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in United Kingdom
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paul drummyb (2 years ago)
Really beautiful walk and plenty to see
Daniela James (3 years ago)
Lovely place to enjoy the autumnal sunshine!
Diane Counsell (3 years ago)
Absolutely lovely place to go walking... Loved the scenery. Wasn't there for long enough but will be going back soon as we, can to explore more.
richard berry (4 years ago)
David Hutchinson (4 years ago)
Pretty cool to have something so old that is still around for us to look at.