Llyn Cerrig-bach

  • SH303764
Nearest town:
Holyhead (8km WNW)
OS reference:
SH303764
OS sheet:
114
Latitude:
53° 15' 25.42 N
Longitude:
4° 32' 39.44 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Llyn Cerrig-bach by thesweetcheat

Looking across the remaining part of Llyn Cerrig-bach towards Valley airfield, where the hoard was found during runway extension work. I’m pretty sure that some of the features to the northwest of the lake are not natural, but there’s nothing on any SMR.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 3, 2017
Image of Llyn Cerrig-bach by GLADMAN

Bronze repousse-decorated roundel from the Llyn Cerrig-bach hoard, Anglesey... One of in excess of 150 items recovered from the site in 1942.

Image credit: (presumably) National Museum of Wales
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 19, 2013

Articles

Miscellaneous

Llyn Cerrig-bach
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 19, 2013

Sited, perhaps significantly, toward the southern end of the channel separating ‘mainland’ Anglesey from the ‘holy island’ to the west, Llyn Cerrig-bach – the source location of Wales’ most extensive ancient hoard of metal artefacts – lacks the mountain landscape drama of the other primary hoard sites at Llyn Fawr (Glamorgan) and (near) Tal-y-Llyn, Cadair Idris. Nevetheless the finds recovered here during 1942, the result of peat extraction during the construction of RAF Valley airfield, make the site of fundamental importance to any understanding of the Celtic culture of Iron Age Wales.

The collection includes in excess of 150 items fashioned from both iron and bronze (as at the Llyn Fawr), the most poignant perhaps being two ‘slave chains’ apparently initially used by the workmen for dragging lorries out of the mud! Then again, give them a break; how were they to have known? A case of extreme experimental archaeology in action, methinks. Aside from this reminder of the appalingly harsh reality of Iron Age life, the collection also features no less than 7 swords, 6 spearheads, a piece of a shield, trumpet.... even some equestrian stuff.

It is tempting to equate the deposit of such an important votive offering (surely it must have been ritualistic?) with a desperate request for supernatural assistance against the Roman legions poised across the Menai Straits filled with murderous intent .... if so, it didn’t work!

The Llyn Cerrig-bach hoard is now kept at The National Museum of Wales... further details at:
museumwales.ac.uk/en/2363/

Sites within 20km of Llyn Cerrig-bach

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