Looking north along the row © Alan Richards.
A single stone row measuring 1049m long including at least 118 small and medium sized stones, many of which protrude only slightly from the peat, situated on a south facing slope with sea and landscape visual links and reveals. The row leads from a probable ring cairn or possible robbed round cairn to which a pair of contiguous cairns is attached. The row is orientated NNW to SSE but shifts orientation along its upper length to reach the cairn, suggesting that the cairn is earlier. The visual links with the Loughor Estuary, Hartland Point, Exmoor, Bristol Channel, Preseli Hills and Pen y Fan are noteworthy.
Location
| Wales | Swansea | Rest of Wales | SN 62341 07202 |
| Lat 51.746518 Long -3.995466 | |||
Map showing the location of Graig Fawr stone row
Plan of the Graig Fawr stone row. From a GPS survey by Sandy Gerrard and Alan Richards. Updated by Sandy, Helen and Iona Gerrard following a grass fire in 2022.
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 1049m |
| No. of stones: 118 | Size of stones: Small and medium |
| Orientation: 154° | Altitude: 275m |
| Upper end: Cairn | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Cairns, ring cairns, henge, standing stone and hillfort | |
| Notes: This site was discovered by Alan Richards in 2013 and brought to our attention in 2021. At least 96 stones were identified during fieldwork on 12th August 2021. Further fieldwork in 2022 following a grass fire identified a further 22 stones along the northern length. More stones await discovery. | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: SSSI (upper part) |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: No |
Identification
Category: Plausible. This row has a very similar character and plan form to its nearest neighbour at Bancbryn. The most convincing aspect is the pronounced shift of orientation at the upper end to incorporate three conjoined cairns into the alignment. The cairn from which the row leads survives as a rubble ring which although traditionally identified as a robbed round cairn is more likely to be a ring cairn. The relationship between the cairns and row indicates that the row was built after the terminal cairn. The row forms the focus of a ritual complex including a large numbers of cairns, a henge and probable standing stone. Some of the stones (as at Bancbryn) are loose whilst most are firmly bedded in the peat and some may survive as buried features. The sinuous character of the plan form is entirely consistent with long rows. Preliminary investigation of visual links indicate very precise relationships and “reveals” with the Loughor Estuary, Hartland Point, Exmoor, Bristol Channel, Preseli Hills and Pen y Fan.
Typology
This row is of Type S10. Information on this form of row is available here.
Photographs
Looking north along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Looking north along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Looking south along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Looking south along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Looking north along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Looking north along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Looking north along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Looking north along the row in 2013 © Alan Richards.
Ring cairn at the top of the row. View from north east (12th August 2021).
View to the south from the cairn (12th August 2021).
Stone at SN 62446 07047 with Loughor Estuary behind (12th August 2021).
Pen y Fan from the row at SN 62525 06872. Pen y Fan in this area is at the limit of visibility. If you take one step west from the row it disappears from sight (12th August 2021).
The southern length of the row (Scale 1m) on12th August 2021.
Ring cairn at SN 62866 06625 inside the henge with the Silbury Hill impersonator (Twyn Tyle) behind (12th August 2021).
Photographs taken on 14th April 2022
Looking north along the row from SN 62466 07004 (Scale 1m).
Looking south along the row from SN 62484 06968. The mounds close to the row are probably broadly contemporary cairns.
Previously difficult to see stones are now for a short time visible again. View looking south from SN 62502 06919 (Scale 1m).
Row passing a cairn at SN 62494 06926. View from the south.
Looking north along the row from SN 62630 06647.
Looking south along the row from SN 62504 06901. These stones are not usually visible as they hidden by grass.
Looking north along the row from SN 62527 06853. Three cairns are visible on the skyline from this point.
Access Information
Parking is currently available at SN 63515 07510. From here cross the cattle grid onto the moorland. From here head west to the track that leads to the upper end of the row.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Alan Richards for bringing the site to my attention, showing me around, helping with the preliminary survey, sharing his photographs and carrying out additional survey work and research.
Timeline
VISITED: 12th August 2021 and 14th April 2022
FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th August 2021
LAST UPDATED: 17th April 2022
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 