Rhondda Stonehenge

On level ground between Mynydd Y Gelli and Ystrad-Rhondda there is a sizeable group of Bronze age cairns. Including a complex ring cairn and a rare example of a platform cairn. Between two of the cairns is recumbent 4 foot slab which was reported as being standing as late as 1903. The site was excavated earlier this century and some bronze age artefacts were found.

It took me a while to find this site but when I did I was surprised to find so many cairns. When you first come to the site the it simply appears to a field full of large and small stones. However if you look a little more closely you begin to see that a lot of the stones are on end and begin to see the circle patterns. The circle known as the "Rhondda Stonehenge" (Above) still has the cist (below left) which contained the burial visible. The ground where the cairns are to be found is strewn with rocks mostly I suspect from the cairns which are now barely visible. If you look carefully at the photo above you should just be able to discern the circle of standing stones. The stones themselves are not very large at most they are only around 18 inches (45 cms) high (below right). There are number of other badly eroded cairns at the site which are now barely discernible. The ordnance survey map shows a number of cairns at the site but there also seems to be at least one to the west of the site on the other side of the gulley.

To confuse matters there are other cairns at the top of the field which are obviously possibly modern in origin. One appears to be a field clearance pile and another one near by seems to be the remains of a small hut. A decayed dry stone wall marks the top of the field which also contributes to the number of loose stones. All in all the site is not spectacular despite the grandiose name, if you didn't know the site was there it would be very easy to miss. The site is on the boundary fence of the Nant Gwydion landfill site. If the wind is blowing the wrong way the acrid smell from the site is unbearable. In fact when taking the photos, the smell drove both myself and a friend off the mountain. If you do decide to have a look for it the OS map reference for the site is SS976939 but be warned take a gas mask.

The faces

While searching for this site I came across a face carved in a rock. I've searched through the documentation I have on the site but no mention is made of it. The face does not look that old but is still covered in Lichen so that in itself would seem to indicate that it has been there a few years.

On another visit to the site I found yet another face fairly near the first

Below are two pictures of the second face I found at the site. The face differs from the first as it has red pebbles for eyes rather than drilled holes. There is a left eye which is little difficult to see in the photos mainly because it is overgrown with moss. The nose definitely seems to have been enhanced by chipping away on either side. Again I don't think this is old but it's hard to tell how long it's been there.

It's also interesting to note that there is a simulacra of another face in the moss on the right hand side of the face see if you can spot it. 

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