The massive Brenig 51 Platform Cairn is one of the highlights of the Brenig Archaeological Trail. It was excavated in 1974 and tastefully restored to show the original design of the monument. It consists of a flat ring of small stones 7 metres wide which forms a circle 22 metres in diameter. The outer edge of the ring has a neat kerb of larger stones; the inner edge is lined with a circle of small upright stones. The remains of a substantial wooden post which was probably an important feature of the cairn were found at the centre of the space within the ring.

A pot containing of the cremated bones of two people and a bone pommel were found underneath the ring near the southern inner edge. Another cremation of a child aged about 11 years was found in a pit within the central space of the ring. Despite these burials, the monument was probably ceremonial rather than funery in nature.

Later modifications to the cairn were the filling with stones of the central area to form a complete circular platform and a small cairn built against the north east edge in which a pot containing charcoal was found.

The construction of the cairn has been dated to around 1800 BC which puts it in the middle of the 400 to 500 year span of Bronze Age monument building at Brenig.

Archaeologists also found evidence for a settlement underneath the cairn. This may have been a permanent or summer residence of the community who created the Brenig Ritual Landscape or maybe a camp used by the builders of the earlier barrows and ring cairn.

Platform Cairns are generally distinguished from Ring Cairns by virtue of the large width of the stone ring relative to the size of the central space. In North Wales another fine but unrestored example with a quartz kerb can be seen below Moel Ty Uchaf.

Be (very) prepared when first visiting Brenig 51. I have personally witnessed gasps of amazement from even hardened antiquarians when first spying this beauty!

Location: Denbighshire, Wales
Grid Ref: SH98945662