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CeredigionCounty
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Sites/Groups in this region:
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8 posts
Banc-y-Geufron Kerbed Cairn |
3 posts
Banc Blaenegnant Round Cairn |
3 posts
Banc Rhosgoch Fach Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech |
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1 post
Banc y Warren Enclosure |
32 posts
Bedd Taliesin Chambered Cairn |
20 posts
Bryngwyn Bach Barrow / Cairn Cemetery |
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5 posts
Bryn Goleu Round Cairn |
11 posts
Bryn Rhosau Round Barrow(s) |
1 post
Bryn Rhudd Cairn(s) |
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20 posts
Bryn y Gorlan Stone Circle |
1 post
Bwlch-y-Crwys Round Barrow(s) |
8 posts
Bwlch east of Moel y Llyn, Ceulanamaesmawr Cairn(s) |
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10 posts
Bwlch Graig-Fawr, Teifi Pools Cist |
2 posts
Caer Allt-Goch Hillfort |
4 posts
Cae'r Arglwyddes I Round Cairn |
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12 posts
Cae'r Arglwyddes II (& the White Stone) Round Cairn |
4 posts
Caer Lletty-Llwyd Hillfort |
4 posts
Caer Penrhos Hillfort |
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17 posts
Cantre'r Gwaelod Mesolithic site |
3 posts
Capel Bangor Camp Hillfort |
9 posts
Carn Dolgau Round Cairn |
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24 posts
Carn Fflur Barrow / Cairn Cemetery |
16 posts
Carn Gron Barrow / Cairn Cemetery |
2 posts
Carn Nant-y-Llys Cairn(s) |
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8 posts
Carn Penrhiwllwydog Cairn(s) |
12 posts
Carn Saith-Wraig Cairn(s) |
1 post
Carreg Samson Standing Stone / Menhir |
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3 posts
Carreg Samson (Llethr) Standing Stone / Menhir |
15 posts
Castell Bach and Castell Mawr Hillfort |
10 posts
Castell Bach, Cwmtydu Cliff Fort |
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7 posts
Castell Bach (Penbryn) Cliff Fort |
12 posts
Castell Bwa-Drain Hillfort |
9 posts
Castell Disgwylfa Hillfort |
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13 posts
Castell Flemish Hillfort |
1 post
Castell Moeddyn Hillfort |
13 posts
Castell Rhyfel Hillfort |
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13 posts
Castell Tregaron. Sunnyhill wood camp Hillfort |
12 posts
Castle Grogwynion Hillfort |
14 posts
Cefn Cerrig Cairn(s) |
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8 posts
Cerrig Blaencletwr-Fawr (Esgair Foel-ddu) Round Cairn |
21 posts
Cerrig yr Wyn Standing Stones |
9 posts
Cnwch Eithinog Standing Stone / Menhir |
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10 posts
Cnwch Eithinog Cairn(s) |
9 posts
Cnwc y Bugail Hillfort |
5 posts
Copa Hill Ancient Mine / Quarry |
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8 posts
Craig Ysradmeurig Round Barrow(s) |
2 posts
Crug Cou Round Barrow(s) |
7 posts
Cwmere Farm Stone Standing Stone / Menhir |
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10 posts
Cylch Derwyddol Stone Circle |
1 post
Darren Camp Hillfort |
6 posts
Devil's Punch Bowl Natural Rock Feature |
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20 posts
Dolgamfa Circle Kerbed Cairn |
1 post
Esgair Nant-yr-Arian Hillfort |
1 post
Ffynnon-Wen (Llangybi) Sacred Well |
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6 posts
Foel y Mwnt Promontory Fort |
3 posts
Fron Ddu Round Cairn |
11 posts
Fron Goch Camp Hillfort |
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11 posts
Gaer Fawr, Trawsgoed Hillfort |
3 posts
Gelli Round Barrow Round Barrow(s) |
1 post
Gilfach-Hafel Camp Hillfort |
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6 posts
Groes Fawr Cist |
2 posts
Hen Gaer Hillfort |
5 posts
Llech Bron Standing Stone / Menhir |
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10 posts
Llethr Brith Round Cairn |
1 post
Llwyn Crwyn Round Barrow(s) |
20 posts
Moel y Llyn, Ceulanamaesmawr Megalithic Cemetery |
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7 posts
Nant-y-Maen Standing Stone / Menhir |
13 posts
Old Warren Hillfort Hillfort |
49 posts
Pendinas Hillfort Hillfort |
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14 posts
Pendinas Lochtyn Hillfort |
5 posts
Penrhyncoch Camp Hillfort |
Penrhyncoch Camp
Hillfort
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25 posts
Pen-y-Bannau Hillfort |
3 posts
2 sites Pen-y-Castell |
4 posts
Pen-y-Felin Wynt Hillfort |
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14 posts
Pen-y-Ffrwyd Llwyd Camp Hillfort |
3 posts
Pen-y-Graig (Llanarth) Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
10 posts
Pen-y-Gurnos Round Barrow(s) |
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Pen Banc
Cairn(s)
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16 posts
Pen Dinas (Banc Mynydd Gorddu) Hillfort |
7 posts
Pen Glog Round Cairn |
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21 posts
Pen y Foel Goch Cairn(s) |
3 posts
2 sites Plas Gogerddan |
1 post
31 sites Pumlumon and its Environs |
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2 posts
Tan-y-Ffordd Hillfort |
2 posts
Trichrug Sacred Hill |
1 post
Whilgarn Cairn(s) |
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21 posts
Ysbyty Cynfyn Christianised Site |
11 posts
Y Garn (Carn Gron) Round Cairn |
Sites of disputed antiquity:
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10 posts
Llwyn-on-Fach Standing Stone / Menhir |
4 posts
Nant-y-Ffrwd Standing Stone / Menhir |
2 posts
Penbryn Pillar Stone Standing Stone / Menhir |
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5 posts
Penmaen-Gwyn Standing Stone / Menhir |
4 posts
Penrhyn-Coch War Memorial Standing Stone / Menhir |
7 posts
Pond Nant y Cagal Stones Standing Stones |
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4 posts
St Tyssilio's Churchyard Stone Standing Stone / Menhir |
10 posts
Y Garreg Fawr Burial Chamber |
News |
 Add news |
Prehistoric forest arises in Cardigan BaySkeletal trees of Borth forest, last alive 4,500 years ago and linked to lost kingdom of Cantre'r Gwaelod, appear at shoreline... continues... |
Posted by moss21st February 2014ce |
Prehistoric landscape uncovered at BorthFrom the RCAHMW blog at http://heritageofwalesnews.blogspot.com/2012/03/prehistoric-landscape-uncovered-at.html "It’s a race against tide this week at Borth in Ceredigion... continues... |
Posted by blossom13th March 2012ce Edited 14th March 2012ce |
1,000-year-old fishing trap found on Google EarthBritain's most ancient fishing trap has been discovered off the coastline of Wales after research carried out on Google Earth. The 853ft (260m) long construction is thought to have been built 1,000 years ago, around the time of the Domesday Book, using large rocks placed on a river bed... continues... |
Posted by Pilgrim16th March 2009ce Edited 17th March 2009ce |
Iron Age Site Dig Open to PublicFrom an article published on the BBC News web site on 6th August 2006: Archaeologists excavating an Iron Age farmstead in west Wales say the site may have been home to "several families" as early as 200 BC... continues... |
Posted by Kammer6th August 2006ce Edited 10th August 2006ce |
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Ceredigion Archaeology Day School A day school aimed at anyone who is interested in the history and archaeology of Ceredigion is running on Saturday 4th March between 10.50 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. The event is taking place at the Hugh Owen Lecture Theatre, Aberystwyth University [sic]. Cambria Archaeology |
Posted by Kammer 24th February 2006ce |
Roman [sic] lead industry found in bogFrom an article published on the BBC News web site on 29th July 2005: Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a Roman lead smelting site in a peat bog in Ceredigion... continues... |
Posted by Kammer 3rd August 2005ce Edited 7th February 2006ce |
Bronze Age Farms Discovered In Ceredigion FieldArchaeologists were called in to investigate the site near Llandysul after workmen clearing farmland for a new Welsh Development Agency industrial estate noticed dark circles in the soil. Cambria Archaeology workers then identified several large circular graves from the Bronze Age... continues... |
Posted by BrigantesNation 22nd August 2003ce Edited 7th February 2006ce |
Latest posts for Ceredigion |
Showing 1-10 of 1,238 posts. Most recent first | Next 10 
Pen Pumlumon-Fawr (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes |
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Ah, Pumlumon.... I've never been able to determine, to articulate the origin of the apparent synchronicity that exists between this often world-weary traveller... and the soggy summit of The Cambrian Mountains; this synergy inspiring me to efforts well outside my comfort zone, drawing me back to these bleak uplands time and time again where, or so it would appear, so few modern antiquarians see fit to tread nowadays. OK, consider: there is the unrivalled rising of THREE major Welsh rivers upon the main ridge according Pumlumon the status of fountainhead extraordinaire; there is its location, both geographically and within the national consciousness, blocking access to the fastness of Gwynedd, natural fortress of yore, from the south - pivotal watershed in more ways than one; then there is Pumlumon's inclusion within the exclusive traditional mountain triumvirate of Wales (the others being, of course, Yr Wyddfa herself and Cadair Idris); and last but certainly not least, the fact that the local Bronze Age inhabitants saw fit to erect Wales', arguably the UK's, finest collection of upland cairns upon Pumlumon and her subsidiary hills. You know, upon reflection I reckon all the above are pretty compelling reasons to visit. But considered in unison the mix is overwhelmingly potent. Consequently, it's rather ironic that the decision to ascend to the sentinel summit once again was - as seven years previously - a spur-of-the-moment thing made following three days wild camping below. Yeah, packed and ready to leave upon a glorious, cloudless morning the sight - or perhaps the sound, the 'aural sculpture'? - of the cascading Maesnant proves the catalyst for an abrupt change of plan. A volte-face or, if you prefer, Amy Winehouse's '180'. To be fair, it does happen to me. Quite a bit, in fact. Clearly it would take minds far exceeding mine in complexity to rationalise such apparently arbitrary choices in a coherent manner; however should one of those 'engineers' from Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' happen to suddenly appear brandishing a 'universal translator' gizmo, what odds that the fast-flowing waters were revealed to be saying something akin to "And WTF do you think you're doing on a day like this, muppet? Up you go and let's say no more about this, capisce?" Whatever, it's good advice since cloudless mornings at Pumlumon, in my experience, tend to be notable by their absence. Hence, despite a gaping hole in my left boot acquired the previous day, I shove everything back in the car boot and set off steeply uphill alongside the left-hand (northern) bank of the tumbling stream. The path, such as it is, is certainly soggy, but since rivers not only run through here but are endlessly reborn here, what else should one expect? Just not ideal with a hole in the footwear such as to cause Neil from the Young Ones to have a really heavy bummer. Indeed, the route soon crosses the access track to one such river's 'womb', the Llyn Llygad-Rheidol (Eye of the Rheidol) cradled beneath the powerful, craggy northern face of Pen Pumlumon Fawr, now beckoning to the approx south-east. From here the view is that of restrained anticipation, rather than head-spinning primaeval beauty - just as I like my approaches. Well, you wouldn't tuck straight into the main course of a cordon-bleu meal without the hors d'oeuvres, would you? Or perhaps you would? As chance would have it I happen to catch up with another punter, previously some way in front, taking a breather before the final push to the summit. However any triumphant exclamations of 'Get in there! There's life in this old dog yet!' are stifled at source upon ascertaining said gentlemen is not only an octogenarian... but also convalescing from a recent heart attack. Yeah, clad in a 'Cwm Ystwyth' T-shirt - a none too subtle clue to the whereabouts of his retirement home (and, incidentally, site of a wild camp earlier this week) - he's happy to discuss the relative merits of large scale geological maps versus the current OS series.. or rather 'educate' since I know nothing of the former... and can barely use the latter, even after all these years. One thing we can agree upon with more-or-less certainty, however, is there is 'something' about Pumlumon... so quiet, trodden by relatively few boots etc.... and there are surely few more rewarding places to be this morning. The irony - yes, that again - is therefore not lost upon me when having bid farewell and made (very) surprisingly short work of the final ascent, I'm greeted by a horde of ramblers seemingly poured over the summit like Lyle's Golden Syrup over that pudding I used to have as a kid. To be fair the 'person in charge' does apologise for the rather excessive noise of her charges. Nonetheless, miserable bastard that I am, I instead retreat eastward to enjoy a peaceful, extended sojourn overlooking the aforementioned Llyn Llygad Rheidol. This is arguably the finest perch upon Pumlumon, with the quartzite blocks of the Cerrig Cyfamod Glyndwr, shining beyond the brooding tarn to approx north, drawing the gaze toward a horizon crowned by Cadair Idris and The Arans. Here, at this classic spot making a mockery of all who seek to arraign this wondrous mountain with charges of monotony, minutes imperceptibly become several hours until, eventually, I venture a little further west toward an apparently inauspicious bog to the north of Pen Lluest-y-Carn to labour the point. For here, within this infelicitous marsh, rises none other than the sinuous River Wye (the Blaen Afon Gwy). Furthermore, as if having two prodigious watercourses seeping from the very earth in the immediate locale isn't enough.... just a mile or so further to the north-east, beyond the massive cairns of Pen Pumlumon-Arwystli, can be found the birthplace of the Afon Hafren; the mighty Severn. This traveller knows of no other comparable landscape within these Isles. Frankly, the mind swims at the realisation, at the significance of what we have here set among the great cairns. This is the compelling reason to come to Pumlumon. But what about the cairns? Yeah, forgot about those. Returning to the now-empty fastness of Pen Pumlumon-Fawr's summit a diverse trio of stone piles can be appreciated, each affording magnificent panoramic views, particularly to the north-west where, gazing out across a multitude of similarly-endowed lesser hills to the distant Dyffryn Dyfi, the rounded green tops of Y Tarenau catch both my eye and deep consciousness. Not that I realise it yet. South-westward, the main ridge connects Y Garn, resplendent with its own massive Bronze Age behemoth, to the sentinel, while to the west Aberystwyth sparkles in the autumn sunshine, in turn, marking journey's end for our pre-eminent senior mountaineer's own river. Of the three cairns, the central has by far the largest footprint, if not elevated profile; in fact, it is so large - and unfortunately so disturbed (has there been significant slippage?) - that it is debatable whether any authority can ever definitively assign dimensions. Suffice to say, the incomparable Miosgan Meadhbha looming over Sligo notwithstanding, it covers the largest surface area of any proper upland cairn I've seen and holds three 'muppet shelters' with ease. Although the educated will weep at the actions of such ignorant people. Stupid is as stupid does, as Tom Hanks perceptively remarked once upon a time. In stark contrast, the northern monument is, by Pumlumon standards, rather small. But nevertheless nicely formed. Which brings me to the southern cairn, arguably combining the aesthetic best of both worlds with a classic profile incorporating significant volume of stone. By any account a classic upland cairn, particularly when appreciated in context bathed in the warmest of warm light ... but, as usual it's all about where they put it. Crucially, crowning a mountain that, for me, defies all classification. Unique, teeming with prehistory, Mother of Rivers and occupying a salient position within this nation we call Wales... perhaps it is its very idiosyncrasy that places Pumlumon in a class of its own. "And a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.... But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure" (thanks Claudia). |
Posted by GLADMAN14th January 2020ce |
Moel y Llyn, Ceulanamaesmawr (Megalithic Cemetery) — Images (click to view fullsize) |
        
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Posted by GLADMAN 5th October 2019ce |
Showing 1-10 of 1,238 posts. Most recent first | Next 10
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