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Tyre tracks on 4,000 year old Bronze Age burial mound after vehicle drives over it

Matthew RichardsBBC Wales
BBC Tyre marks on grass heading away from camera towards a mound at the top of a hill where a Bronze Age burial site liesBBC
Tyre tracks show where the vehicle drove over the burial mound

Police are investigating damage caused to a 4,000 year old Bronze Age burial mound after it was driven over by a vehicle.

Tyre marks are clearly visible on the ancient monument which is on Denbigh Moors near Llansannan, Conwy.

Police said the landmark was "part of our heritage and should be respected".

Cadw, which looks after ancient monuments in Wales, urged people to "keep to designated paths and roads" in the countryside.

PC Dave Allen smiling at the camera in front of the burial mound
PC Dave Allen from the North Wales Rural Crime Team is investigating the damage

There are many Bronze Age "cairns" or burial mounds across Wales.

They were built from around 2,000 BC to bury individuals and groups of people.

The mounds are in elevated positions usually surrounded by picturesque views.

A thistle in the foreground in front of the burial mound
The burial mounds are usually in picturesque locations

PC Dave Allen from North Wales Police's rural crime team was alerted to the damage by a local farmer.

He is appealing for more information about what happened to the site.

He said: "It's highly protected under the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 so we need to protect it. It's been here a long time, we're just guardians of it, we need to protect it for future generations as well."

The mound is next to a minor road near Llansannan on the Denbigh Moors and is particularly remote.

PC Allen said a lack of CCTV and forensic evidence made this a challenging inquiry but "if somebody saw something, just a little spark could maybe lead us on in the investigation".

Grass has been worn away on the top of the mound where vehicles have driven
Damage has been caused to the top of the mound

Cadw, the historic monuments body, is working alongside North Wales Police to establish what happened.

Jeff Spencer, field monument warden for the organisation, said: "If these sites are damaged or destroyed they can never be put back entirely as they were.

"Information and material dating back thousands of years is lost forever."

Ramblers Nancy and John Thirsk and Colin and Anne Darlington smiling at the camera on the Denbigh moors
Ramblers Nancy and John Thirsk and Colin and Anne Darlington said the site should be signposted

Colin and Anne Darlington from Llandudno Junction passed the burial mound as they walked the North Wales Pilgrim's Way.

Colin said: "If people are into this sort off-road driving they're going to see that and say 'oh there's a nice little bump to go up'.

"It's standing there waiting for it to some extent, isn't it? And they just don't realise what it is."

Anne said: "Perhaps if there was a sign there advertising it as an archaeological site maybe it wouldn't keep everybody off, but it might keep a few off."

Rambler Nancy Thirsk from Dyserth, Denbighshire, said: "Most people wouldn't recognise that as a burial site at all, would they?

"So unless there's better signage, then it's not really fair to criticise whoever's done that."

Allen said his main aim was to educate people in the area about the historical importance of these ancient sites and the need to preserve them.

He said "If you're going to go out and about and enjoy north Wales' great scenery, have a quick check of Cadw's website in case there's anything you need to be aware of."

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