Arthur’s Stone (NGR SO 3180 4313) is one of eighteen possible Neolithic burial sites that lie within the fertile hinterlands of the Black Mountains of mid Wales and the English Marches, it is considered as the best preserved of the group. In the recent past the site has been extensively researched and discussed. However, there are a number of fundamental questions that remain unanswered. One of these concerns the shape of the mound.


In July 2006 a team of archaeologists from the Clifton Antiquarian Club and University of Bristol undertook an archaeological evaluation in a field immediately north of Arthur’s Stone and Arthur’s Stone Lane. Prior to these intrusive investigations, contour and geophysical surveys were undertaken. However, the results of both were inconclusive.

The Neolithic Chambered Tomb, Arthur's Stone (click image)

Previous interpretation suggests that the mound is oval or circular. Indeed, this is promoted by an on-site display board, designed by English Heritage, guardians of the site. However, the morphology of the present mound is not conducive with other monuments within the group. The circularity of mound could suggest similarities with the first phase of nearby Ty Isaf. The first phase of this monument comprised a circular mound with a 3m passage leading a small rectangular gallery with antechambers either side. It is conceivable that both monuments were contemporary and contact and exchange existed between the users of each monument. However, successive reconnoitres by the author suggests that the chamber and passage were originally incorporated into a long mound, similar to those at Gwernvale and Pipton Long Cairn, both also within the Black Mountains Group.

Another unanswered research question to face any potential investigation is dating and chronology. So far there are only two sites within the Black Mountains Group that have calibrated radiocarbon dates. These two sites form part of a limited group of Welsh monuments that have secure dating.


The monument is currently set within an oval mound measuring approximately 26m x 17m. The polygonal chamber architecture comprises nine upright stones that support an enormous capstone, estimated to weigh 25 tones. In 1935 the archaeologist Hemp described the chamber as kite-shaped, approximating the form of the capstone. Glyn Daniel regarded the chamber as being laterally sited. Several meters south of the capstone and chamber are a large upright sandstone slab that allegedly, has as many as twelve large finger-dent cupmarks on the inner face.  Lying between the chamber and the sandstone upright is a single stone setting. O.G.S. Crawford in 1925 suggested this stone is actually recumbent. It is likely that this stone, along with the cupmarked upright, formed part of a false portal that partly delineated a small façade; not surprising similar in form to other chambered monuments within the Black Mountains Group.

On the western side of the mound is an unorthodox passage that leads to the chamber. Before reaching the chamber, the passage bends 90 degrees thus restricting the visuality between the chamber and the entrance area of the passage. A number of theoretical ideas have been put forward concerning the relationship between the entrance, the passage and chamber.

Prior to the evaluation that was undertaken between July and August 2006, the precise shape of the mound was unknown. Despite the current shape of the mound, it appears that it had not escaped damage. Members of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club, visiting the site in July 1872, remarked that a series of stones laid out in a circular fashion surrounded the monument, referred to as peristaliths. However, there was no sign of any kerbing by 1928 when Alfred Watkins investigated it. Indeed, based on photographs from this period the site had been enclosed by an iron fence. George Nash had suggested in 2000 that the present site layout may once been incorporated into a trapezoidal mound. However, there was no visible earthwork evidence for this. As part of the morphology of the monument, the forecourt area (with false portal) would have been located in the southwest; the false portal represented by the upright that was originally thought to be an antechamber. From a series of reconnoiters there was possible evidence of a mound extending northwards across Arthur’s Stone Lane into adjacent fields. Incorporated in the boundaries of two fields that lie opposite the site are large scatters of loose laminated sandstone blocks that may have originated from a cairn mound that once extended northwards beyond the lane and the present site. The destruction of this part of the monument must have occurred prior to the early 18th century; accounts by Nathaniel Salmon (1728-9) suggested the present morphology of Arthur’s Stone has changed over the past 200 years. During Nathaniel Salmon’s time discernible monuments such as Arthur’s Stone, with its folklore and local superstition, would have suffered destruction especially during the 16^th and 17^th centuries and this may account for the northern end of the monument being dismantled. Based on late 19^th century accounts from Woolhope Club members, there is also evidence that the northern section of the mound was used as a quarry and the stone rubble incorporated into local buildings.

During the 2006 evaluation programme a total of nine trenches were excavated.  The first part of the programme was excavated under adverse weather conditions and fortunately no significant discoveries were made.  However, a series of small key-hole trenches were excavated immediately east of the mound.  Discovered within three of these trenches was conclusive evidence of the primary cairn belonging to Arthur's Stone. Finds were, not unexpectedly meager comprising of three flints.  A radiocarbon sample was taken from an insecure area and the result was disappointing. Nevertheless the rationale of the project design was fulfilled and we can now categorically state that Arthur's Stone was incorporated into a long mound, probably trapezoidal in shape.  It is hoped that an open excavation will take place in 2008 and reveal yet more history of this most imposing site.

Trench revealing the edge of  the primary cairn (click image)