Ian Brooks presents the complete results of the recent archaeological survey of the hillforts of the Clwydian Range and Llantysilio Mountain in North Wales at Llanferres Village Hall on Thursday the 24th of May 2007 at 7.30pm... continues...
An "exceptional" hoard of buried treasure has been found in Wrexham just two years after another major find of Bronze Age treasure there... continues...
The CAPE (Culture, Archaeology, Prehistory Experience) Project comprises the construction of a visitor centre highlighting the Bronze Age and Celtic culture of north east Wales that could attract up to 150,000 tourists a year... continues...
An article about the long running survey of Prehistoric Funerary & Ritual Monuments in Wales, being carried out by CPAT on behalf of Cadw. The page includes photos of Gop Cairn and Moel Ty-Uchaf stone circle.
The Dol Yr Orsedd Stone. To the Editors of the Archaeologia Cambrensis.
Gentlemen, -- About 35 or 40 years ago, when the Mold and Wrexham turnpike road was being made, it was found necessary, in order to give it the width required by statute, to remove a venerable Maen Hir, which stood in a meadow called Dol yr Orsedd, near Pentre hobin, about one mile and a quarter from Mold.
At its base a dagger and some human bones were found, which were then taken possession of by the late Mr. Matther, owner of the meadow. I was recently informed by this gentleman's widow, that the dagger measured about 5 or 6 inches in length, and that it was appropriated by some person unknown several years ago. Mrs. Matther kindly gave me the bones, requesting that I would bury them. They were enclosed in paper, which had an endorsement in Mr. Matther's hand-writing, stating that by supposition they were the bones of a British warrior.
The stone now lies prostrate, close to the hedge at the north-east corner of the meadow. It measures about 9 feet in length, and appears to have been sunk about 3 feet in the ground. It is of quadrangular form, measuring in breadth about 2 feet across the part which was inserted in the ground, and above that part, about 2 1/2 feet, and in depth across the part which was inserted in the ground about 1 1/2 feet, and above it about 1 foot. The part of the stone which was buried in the earth appears to have been roughly splintered or chiselled down, on two sides, thinner than the rest.
Is it still under the ground? Or is half of it lurking as a gatepost? Or is it gone completely now?
..This maenhir cannot now be traced, and it is believed to have been broken or removed many years ago. But it may be remarked that in the adjoining meadow west of Dol yr orsedd is a limestone gate post of unusual size, 4 feet 6 inches above ground, 2 feet broad and 16 inches thick. This may be the old maenhir of Dol yr orsedd, utilised to serve a different purpose, and it may have stood upon a low mound forming the "gorsedd" which gave its distinguishing name to the meadow. -- Visited, 12th June, 1910.
Had no real intention to photograph this barrow today as I have passed Penbedw countless times as it is local, but today I passed it and had to turned around at Nannerch and come back. With the brilliant light and shade of a cold but bright day I could see a feature not noticed before. From my vantage point at the roadside you can clearly see what must be the distubance evidence from the 1860 excavation (Aubrey Burl "A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain..").
In the picture (also posted today) you can see a 'trench' dug into the barrow, unless of course this is an original entrance feature?
The round barrow lies in the same pasture as Penbedw Stone Circle which has doubted history in some people's view. However, the barrow was excavated in 1860 when "..large stones and urn sherds" were found.
Directions: close to the A5 – just south of the village of Cerrigydrudion.
There are two possible candidates for this Barrow.
It is either the low ploughed down mound in the middle of the field or the large gorse covered mound a little further to the east.
I can't be sure.
COFLEIN has no site description – so no help there!
Although by no means an expert in such matters, I'd nonetheless be very surprised if the high level route crossing the main ridge of Y Berwyn at Bwlch Maen Gwynedd hasn't been in use for millennia... travellers braving such a hostile landscape perhaps reassured by the presence of ancestors interred within numerous round cairns upon the surrounding peaks. Possibly even pausing to give thanks for safe passage at the wondrous Moel ty Uchaf before the final descent to the Dee valley? Or vice versa. Now whether the eastern section of the route was through Cwm Maen Gwynedd itself, or following the crest of the high eastern ridge of Y Berwyn (rising above it to the north) is perhaps a moot point. Needless to say there are many precedents for such high routes which may well have been far more practical back in days of yore.
Mynydd Tawr - the Hill of the Bull - is very nearly the most eastern 2,000ft summit of Y Berwyn (Moel Fferna actually just shades that distinction) and, as such, does not feature on many walking itineraries.... least of all mine for the past 20-odd years. However it has the added attraction (for Stoneheads, that is) of a quite substantial Bronze Age cairn crowning its 2,234ft summit... together with an enigmatic 'mound' to the north east (more on these 'mounds' later). So guess I had to pay a visit sooner or later.
The 'phone box at Tyn-y-fford - minus 'phone, as I recall - to the south of the mountain (at SJ118309 where a car can be carefully parked) is a good starting point for an ascent, locals passing in well used land rovers proving to be a lot more friendly than the dogs in the nearby farm... the latter somewhat noisy blighters, it has to be said. Anyway, follow the dead end road uphill, beyond Maes farm, until a gate gives signed access to a field, forestry visible to the north encompassing the eastern flank of the mountain. The traveller can either follow a byway ascending diagonally to the left, or simply put the head down and climb VERY steeply beside the treeline, directly to the summit. Yeah, brains or brawn. I 'choose' brawn' because I don't read the map properly. Appropriate, perhaps? Incidentally one is inclined to wonder if the byway may have had an ancient origin?
Nourished by the excellent retrospective views, the summit is attained, the cairn proving to be a slight disappointment in comparison with the Pumlumon monuments visited a few days earlier. At approx 1m in height and containing a large 'storm shelter'/ sheep shelter / shooting shelter (dunno which, although this is grouse country) the cairn is not the finest of monuments, but nevertheless still covers a fair old area. The views - northwards toward the Clwydian Hills, southwards to the beautiful Tanat valley and the rolling hills of Mid Wales and, in particular, westwards along the twisting ridge beyond Foel Wen and Tomle to the main summits of Y Berwyn - are more than worth the asking price of the ascent in their own right.
I head to the west, then, pausing at the excellent crags of Cerrig Geneugiaid for a while to savour the unbridled wildness of the landscape. Although a fenceline guides the way (handy if caught in mist) the going is tough, thanks to very poor drainage and trademark Berwyn heather. Foel Wen possesses another enigmatic 'mound' of unknown origin, 2,431ft Tomle, a small quartzite summit cairn and at least one, additional 'mound'. Whether these are clearance or not I guess only excavation may determine. Must admit that the grassed-over example near the quartzite cairn looks too substantial to these eyes, but perhaps that's wishful thinking in light of the ancient route hypothesis. What is certain, however, is another large, round cairn on the shoulder of Cadair Berwyn beyond the bwlch. Not to mention another crowning Cadair Bronwen to the north-west..... and several more a'top Cadair Berwyn and Moel Sych, the flanks of which dominate the whole western scene. The standing stone marking the path across the bwlch is apparently a boundary stone. But of Bronze Age origin?
So there you... the walk arguably raises a lot more questions than it provides answers. But it is nonetheless an integral piece of the Bronze Age jigsaw of Y Berwyn. And it's also bloody enjoyable at whatever cerebral level you care to mention. Late evening sun illuminates the Mynydd Tawr cairn as I squeeze every last moment from time before the final descent. Too late to find a camp-site for the night, I settle for the Arans' Bwlch y Groes as the night's stop-over ... with my beady, cormorant eye upon a possible visit to Craig-yr-Aderyn tomorrow.
There's another legendary stone at the church (it seems one is not enough)? It's the lintel above the Priest's Door.
Owen usually attended divine service at Corwen Church, where I was shown a doorway now made up through which he entered to his pew in the chancel. Upon one of the stones is cut, half an inch deep, the figure of a dagger, and my guide told me, with a face more serious than my own, "that upon the Berwyn mountain, behind the Church, was a place called Glyndwr's seat, from which he threw his dagger, and made the impression upon the stone." If this had happened in our day, the whole bench of bishops would have united in pronouncing him Jacobin. Exclusive of the improbability of the tale, my friend forgot that it refutes itself, for the mark of the dagger is upon the very door-way which Owen passed, which probably was not built up in his day. I climbed the mountain to what is called Owain's seat, among the rocks, and concluded he must have been more agreeably employed than in throwing his dagger, for the prospect is most charming. Here the rich and delightful vale of Corwen expands to view, with the Dee in the centre. Here Owen might view near forty square miles of his own land.