The Great Carn, Cefn Bryn

I think I'll head back over to "the backbone of Gower" - Cefn Bryn - for today's post on the Gower Peninsula's Pagan history. Cefn Bryn is the Gower Peninsula's second highest point(beaten only by Rhossili Downs), rising as it does 188 metres above sea level. As well as being Gower's dominant land mass, it also holds one of the densest collections of cairns and othe pagan stone relic formations in the whole of South Wales. As mentioned in the post a few days ago, it also plays host the magnicent Arthur's Stone - Gower's most treasured historic monument. It trully is a fascinating and beautiful landscape that should be explored far more often than it is by visitors and locals alike.

The Great Carn, Cefn Bryn's Most Impressive Ritual Cairn -
The Iron Age Earth Fort, Cil Ifor Top, Can Be Seen in the Background

The largest of the numerous Bronze Age cairns located on Cefn Bryn is known as the Great Carn (SS 490 904), which is located less than 300 metres south east from Arthur's Stone. The site consists of a saucer-shaped mound of stones raised over a central grave pit. Its scale and prominant position (affording thoses who visit the cairn some amazing panaramic views over much of the Gower Peninsula) mark out this monument as holding a special significance to the people who built it.

The Spectular Landscape Surrounding the Great Carn, Cefn Bryn

The Great Cairn - a Magickal Monument

Excavations on the Great Carn, which took between 1981 and 1984, revealed a fascinating history about this site. From the small amount of bone discovered on the site, it has been suggested that this cairn was used more for symbolic and magickal rites than just a burial ground. The cairn was also built upon ground once occupied by an earlier ancient Neolithic settlement.

View Towards Whiteford Point From the Great Cairn, Cefn Bryn

The Great Cairn - Once the Scene of Great Pagan Rites and Ceremonies

View of the North Gower Landscape From The Great Carn

Gower's Famous Free-Roaming Ponies At The Great Carn