About
Barclodiad y Gawres — meaning 'the apronful of the giantess' in Welsh, a reference to a local legend about the monument's creation — is one of the most significant Neolithic passage tombs in Wales, dating from around 2500–3000 BC. Situated on a cliff-top promontory above the Irish Sea near Rhosneigr on the west coast of Anglesey, the monument is remarkable above all for the abstract carved designs that decorate five of its chamber stones — making it one of only two megalithic tombs in Wales to contain decorated stones in the Irish Sea megalithic tradition, the other being Bryn Celli Ddu on the same island.
The monument consists of a restored circular mound covering a cruciform (cross-shaped) burial chamber. From the entrance on the south side, a stone-lined passage leads into the central chamber, which in turn opens into three side chambers — the cruciform plan that is characteristic of the Irish Sea megalithic tradition and has close parallels with the great passage tombs of the Boyne Valley in Ireland, particularly Newgrange and Knowth. Five of the chamber uprights bear incised abstract decoration: spirals, lozenge patterns, chevrons, and zig-zag lines executed in a style that connects Anglesey to a tradition of megalithic art extending across Ireland, the Irish Sea coast of Wales, and western Scotland.
The interior of the monument was excavated in the 1950s, when the decorated stones were first fully documented and the mound was subsequently restored to its present form. Excavation revealed traces of cremated bone and animal remains, including frog and toad bones, sea fish, shells, and the remains of a stew or ritual meal within the chamber — evidence of the complex funerary and ritual activities that took place here around 3000 BC. The deposits suggest multiple phases of use and a rich ceremonial life associated with the treatment of the dead.
Because the decorated chamber stones are vulnerable to weathering and vandalism, access to the interior of Barclodiad y Gawres requires a key, which must be collected from Llanfaelog Post Office, approximately one mile away from the site. This arrangement is managed by Cadw and ensures that the carved stones are protected while remaining accessible to visitors who make the effort to obtain the key.
The cliff-top setting of the monument is spectacular — the Irish Sea stretches to the west and north, and on clear days the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland are visible. The coastal scenery around the site forms part of the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the combination of prehistoric monument and dramatic coastal setting makes Barclodiad y Gawres one of the most atmospherically powerful heritage sites in Wales.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- CRITICAL: To enter the chamber and see the decorated stones, you must collect the key from Llanfaelog Post Office, approximately 1 mile from the site. Check post office opening hours before travelling.
- A refundable deposit is required for the key — bring cash or a payment card.
- Without the key, you can see the restored mound and enjoy the cliff-top setting, but you cannot enter the passage or see the carved stones.
- The passage entrance is low — bring a torch and wear clothes you don't mind getting dusty.
- Combine with Bryn Celli Ddu for a full Anglesey megalithic day — both are free Cadw sites with remarkable decorated stones (Bryn Celli Ddu does not require a key).
- Check the weather before visiting — the cliff-top setting is exposed and spectacular but can be very windy.
- There are no facilities at the site — use Rhosneigr village for toilets and refreshments before or after.
- On clear days, look west from the cliff-top for views of the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland on the horizon.
Highlights
Decorated Chamber Stones
The defining feature of Barclodiad y Gawres is the abstract decoration carved on five of the chamber uprights — spirals, lozenge patterns, chevrons, and zig-zag lines that represent some of the most sophisticated Neolithic art in Wales. These carvings are executed in the Irish Sea megalithic tradition, with close parallels to the decorated stones at Newgrange and Knowth in Ireland's Boyne Valley — monuments that represent the apogee of this artistic tradition.
Only two megalithic tombs in Wales contain decorated stones of this type: Barclodiad y Gawres and Bryn Celli Ddu.
To see the carvings you must enter the chamber, which requires collecting the key from Llanfaelog Post Office — making this one of the more memorable and rewarding heritage experiences in Wales.
Cruciform Chamber Plan
The internal layout of Barclodiad y Gawres — a passage leading to a central chamber with three side chambers opening from it — forms a cruciform or cross-shaped plan that is characteristic of the Irish Sea megalithic tradition. This architectural form has its most famous expression at Newgrange and Knowth in Ireland, but the same basic layout appears at passage tombs across Ireland, western Scotland, and Wales, reflecting a shared funerary and ritual architecture that crossed the Irish Sea.
The cruciform plan at Barclodiad y Gawres is relatively small but clearly legible inside the restored mound, and it connects this Anglesey monument directly to the wider tradition of monumental tomb-building across the Irish Sea world in the Neolithic period.
Cliff-Top Setting and Sea Views
The setting of Barclodiad y Gawres on a cliff-top above the Irish Sea is one of the most dramatic of any prehistoric monument in Wales. The site commands panoramic views across the western approaches — on clear days the mountains of Ireland's Wicklow coast are visible on the horizon, and the shipping lanes of the Irish Sea stretch away to the south and west.
The builders of the monument almost certainly chose this prominent coastal position deliberately, creating a monument visible from the sea and from a wide sweep of the surrounding landscape and coast.
The combination of ancient monument, cliff-top grass, and sea horizon creates a site experience of exceptional atmospheric power.
Ritual Deposits and Ceremonial Life
Excavation of Barclodiad y Gawres in the 1950s revealed remarkable evidence of the ceremonial life associated with the monument. Within the central chamber, archaeologists found the remains of a ritual meal or funerary feast — a stew or deposit containing the bones of frogs, toads, eels, mice, hares, whiting, wrasse, and other animals, along with shellfish and traces of fire.
This deposit speaks to complex funerary rituals and beliefs about the transition between life and death, and the connection between the world of the living and the world of the ancestors.
The variety of animal remains — both domestic and wild, land and sea — suggests a deliberate assemblage rather than simple dietary debris, and has prompted extensive discussion among archaeologists about Neolithic ritual practice.
Collections
Barclodiad y Gawres is an unmanned open-access monument with no permanent collection on site. Finds from the 1950s excavation, including the animal bone ritual deposits and pottery fragments, are held in the National Museum Wales in Cardiff. The decorated chamber stones remain in situ within the restored mound and are accessible via the key from Llanfaelog Post Office.
A Cadw interpretation board provides basic contextual information.
Explore the diverse collections housed in this museum.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.