An article by Dr Colin Richards about the University of Manchester excavation of Na Dromannan in 2002 and 2003. It includes four photos of the site taken during excavataion.
Kammer
In his book Saints and Stones (ISBN 1-84323-124-7) Damien Walford Davies suggests that the name Parc-y-Meirw (meaning ‘field of the dead’) may date back to the battle of Mynydd Carn which is believed to have taken place nearby in 1081:
During the course of the fighting, three Welsh princes – Trahaearn ap Caradog, Caradog ap Gruffudd and Meilyr ap Rhiwallon – were killed by the forces of Rhys ap Tewdwr of Deheubarth and Gruffudd ap Cynan, assisted by the Irish.
Davies suggests that the death of these princes contributed towards the subsequent Norman invasion of south Wales.
In the book Saints and Stones (ISBN 1-84323-124-7) Davies and Eastham describe Ffyst Samson as a landmark on one of the Medieval pilgrim route to St David’s:
A walk from Trellys-draw farm leads through a gate up the hillside footpath opposite for 0.5ml to the moorland beyond. The tomb stands among gorse on a rocky plateau commanding stupendous vistas over the surrounding countryside towards St David’s Head and the sea. The enormous, rugged capstone rests delicately on two metre-high sidestones.
According to Davies and Eastham the name ‘Ffyst Samson’ translates into English as ‘St Samson’s Flail’ (the inclusion of the title ‘Saint’ indicates a degree of bias towards Celtic Christian tradition).
The National Monument Record (available through Coflein) gives the following description of this stone:
A standing stone c.2.7m high. Excavation, 1962-68(?), indicated that the stone had been one of a pair, 10m apart, with a stony area, c.15m by 15m, containing a BA cremation, to the N. This BA ritual complex overlies a possible Neolithic settlement (Dat Prn2019). RC dating indicates that some features of the site may be recent.
In the book Saints and Stones (ISBN 1-84323-124-7) Davies and Eastham describe the stone as, “standing 2.7 metres high in gorse”. They also allude to a second stone hole to the north east, revealed by excavation in the 1960s.
A cobbled pavement was discovered to have been laid discontinuously around and to the east of the paired stones. Under the cobbles in a layer of grey silt, fragments of cremated bone and pottery were found, and below them, the remains of seven sub-rectangular and elliptical huts. Their construction, and finds associated with them, suggest seasonal occupation at some point between the late Neolithic and late Bronze Age.
An old photo of ‘Gunner Keld’, scattered with children, taken by Alvin Langdon Coburn.
Like most of the photos in this collection, this one isn’t dated, but was probably taken in the first half of the 20th Century.
An old photo identified of ‘Ystymcegid Cromlech’ by Alvin Langdon Coburn. Sadly it’s undated, but was probably taken in the first half of the 20th Century.
An old photo identified as ‘Bodnant Cromlech’ by Alvin Langdon Coburn (there’s also a second photo of the site). Sadly it’s undated, but was probably taken in the first half of the 20th Century. As an interesting point of contrast compare Coburn’s photo to this one by IronMan:
https://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/5321
An old photo of ‘Llety-y-filiast’ by Alvin Langdon Coburn. Sadly it’s undated, but was probably taken in the first half of the 20th Century. As an interesting point of contrast compare Coburn’s photo to this one by IronMan:
An old photo of Cors y Gedol (or Corsygedol) by Alvin Langdon Coburn. The photo is undated, but was probably taken during the first half of the 20th Century. Note the dry stone walling at the eastern end of the tomb.
An old photo of Cefn Isaf by Alvin Langdon Coburn. There’s a second photo, also by Coburn, on the same web site. Sadly neither are dated, but were probably taken in the first half of the 20th Century.
An old photo of Glendruid by an unidentified photographer. Sadly the photo is undated, but it’s on a glass transparency, which gives an idea of when it was taken.
An old photo of Capel Garmon by Alvin Langdon Coburn. There’s a second and third photo of the tomb by Coburn on the same web site.
The date of these photos isn’t clear but, the tomb was excavated in 1927, so that gives us a clue (so long as it wasn’t restored before that). In the photos the site is neatly fenced off for public access, so it’s probably not been recently excavated. Coburn died in 1966, so the photos may well have been taken between 1930 and 1966.
An old photo of Clach na Carraig by Alvin Langdon Coburn, tantalizingly described as “Serpent Mound & Cross, Cross Iova, Stone Oban”.
The date of the photo isn’t clear. Mr Coburn was alive between 1882 and 1966, so my guess would be early 20th Century.
An old photo of the Llandbedr Stones by Alvin Langdon Coburn, incorrectly labelled as “Harlech, Standing Stones”.
The date of the photo isn’t clear, but the size of the tree gives a clue to the date. Mr Coburn was alive between 1882 and 1966, so my guess would be early 20th Century.
Visited 7th December 2003: We had no problem gaining access to the church, because it was a Sunday. Luckily there wasn’t a service going on.
The stone is almost opposite the church door behind the font (which is a bit of an obstruction). Its was exciting to see Welsh rock art of this quality so close up. I’m no expert, but the spiral seemed pretty well defined. It’s a shame that we don’t have more understanding of where it came from.
A hand written note about the stone is pinned to the notice board by the church door. It reads,
The Llanbedr Spiral Stone
This stone was found in the hut Circles above Llanbedr, which were probably built during the period when the Goidelo occupied the district from Mawddach to the Glaslyn. The ultimate origin of the spiral decoration can be traced back to Egypt – and thence to Scandinavia Britain & Ireland where it arrived several centuries before Christ.In Britain spirals were at first only found on stones and rock surfaces, but later on they were made use of for decorating various things.
This stone is one of the best examples of Early spiral ornament on stones.
The quirky capitalization is original. As for the accuracy of the account, I’m not convinced that the association with ancient Egypt or the dating of carved spirals in Britain lend it much credibility. However, there does seem to be a definite tradition connecting the stone with these (possibly Iron Age) hut circles.
Edited down from an article by David Prudames, published on www.24hourmuseum.org.uk on 7th June 2004:
Local campaigners have voiced their concerns following an application by building materials supplier Tarmac to extend gravel extraction operations near the Neolithic complex of henges at Thornborough in Yorkshire.
Last week Tarmac, which is already quarrying in areas around the henges, lodged a planning application with North Yorkshire County Council to begin gravel extraction at the nearby Ladybridge Farm site.
Campaign group the Friends of Thornborough has reacted by issuing a rallying call to the British public, seeking help in stopping the application’s success.
“Up to now my objective has been to publicise the danger that exists to a little known site that we believe should be recognised as being of national importance,” the organisation’s Mike Sanders told the 24 Hour Museum.
A meeting is planned for the evening of June 8, when the organisation will look at ways in which they can raise objections to the application as well as mobilising public support.
Adapted from a photo taken 7th December 2003. A lesson in why Photoshop shouldn’t be available to us non-artists.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: A close-up of the spiral. Unfortunately the font is in the way, so it’s tricky getting a straight-on view.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: What can you say about this? I guess it’s a view of the stone from the south, with Louise’s hand for scale.
The curved thing in the bottom left of the shot is the base of the font.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 7th December 2003: We parked on the A496 and asked about access at a house near the stones. The gentleman I spoke to was very congenial. He said that a footpath runs very close to them, and he couldn’t see any problem with us taking a closer look. I should add that it wasn’t his land, but he seemed to know what he was talking about.
We found the stones standing very modestly in the field in the shadow of a large tree which stands right next to them. There’s an iron fence around them and the tree, presumably to protect all three from livestock. One of the stones is tall and slender, and the other much shorter. As Julian observed, the smaller of the two looks almost delicate, and it’s amazing that’s it’s survived. Wear wellies if you visit during the winter.
The stone pair at Llanbedr are thought by some to be the first of a number of Bronze Age standing stones marking a trade route into the mountains. The theory is that metal was transported inland having been unloaded from boats moored on the coast (or Afon Artro?).
The stones are also known as Meini Hirion (meaning long stones).
Taken 7th December 2003: The top of the taller southern stone.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: The stones viewed from the east (approximately speaking).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: The stone pair viewed from the south, with the northern end of Llandbedr in the distance.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 7th December 2003: Access to Cors y Gedol is very good, with a level tarmac path leading right past it. It would be a great site for a wheelchair user to visit, or anyone with limited mobility. The only potential problems are the uneven surface and gradient in the car park, the gate at the start of the path and getting to see the chamber from all angles. I’d have thought an extra set of hands would resolve most of these, except possibly the last.
Having described the access as very good, I should mention that we made very slow progress to the chamber because the nice farmer had put a herd of cattle in the field, including calves and at least one bull. We nearly turned back, but decided to keep going, moving gingerly along the perimeter wall. This seemed to work, but it wasn’t a relaxing experience.
The tomb itself is interesting, sitting in a beautiful location in the shadow of cairn capped Moelfre. The views out to sea are almost as striking. At the time I interpreted it as either an earth-fast tomb or a collapsed portal dolmen. There’s cairn material evident around the chamber, especially to the west. Possibly one of those sites best visited in winter.
Taken 7th December 2003: The tomb viewed from the south. Cairn material is just about visible around the chamber, and the nice tarmac path is to the right of the shot (with menacing cattle in the distance – you can’t see them, but they’re there... waiting).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: Viewed from the west with the might Moelfre in the background. It’s hard not to make a link between the position of the tomb and the mountain.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 7th December 2003: We parked in the cul-de-sac called Bro Arthur, walked back onto the main road then made our way up the path to the mighty Dyffryn Ardudwy. Luckily for us the weather was spot on, with good crisp winter sunshine.
It was a dynamic visit. The cairn material made it tricky for Alfie to walk around, so he was in a bit of a grump at first. Then William managed to get his foot wedged between two of the orthostats in the eastern chamber. I rescued him, and after some tears he was back to normal, pretending he was in a ‘ty-house’ (or is that ‘tea-house’). Before we left I squeezed into the western chamber with both the boys, peaking out at Lou (who wasn’t silly enough to follow us). The boys thought this was hysterical (so did I if I’m honest).
A photo and description of the site, plus links to seven high resolution photos and numerous panoramas (either Real VR which you’ll need a plug-in for or Java). Someone’s been climbing on capstones (tsk tsk).
Six photographs of the site and a description, including directions. It looks like Graham and/or Angela also squeezed into the tiny western chamber.
Taken 7th December 2003: The eastern chamber with it’s brickwork pseudo-orthostat, viewed from the south west.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: From inside the western chamber looking east. It’s tricky squeezing inside, but there’s room in there for an adult, a one year old and a four year old.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: The western chamber, viewed from the north east.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 7th December 2003: This is the capstone of the western chamber, viewed from the north west.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 6th December 2003: I’ve visited the Bryn Rhosau barrows a few times before, mainly because they’re very close to my house. Round barrows are unusual in this part of Ceredigion, and of these two the one to the north is especially well defined. Gelli is not far to the west, with Dolgamfa and Ysbytty Cynfyn off to the east. This area must have been something special during the Bronze Age. These two barrows may be connected with Afon Tuen, a small tributary of the Rheidol, which once had it’s source where Lyn yr Oerfa is now.
It’s a very exposed spot, so when we last visited the winter winds made it hard to stand up. In the summer it’s beautiful though, with wild flower growing on the Common, Skylarks, Red Kite, Buzzards, Brown Hare etc. The Rheidol Wind Farm is relatively close, but not intrusive.
The Bryn Rhosau barrows are on Common Land, but it’s not straightforward getting to them. The quickest route I’ve found is to park by Lyn yr Oerfa (SN72957978) and walk up the public footpath that follows the track north. After the first house, take the stile on the left (you’re now on Common Land) and continue north, parallel to the boundary fence (the round barrows are now silhouetted on the horizon to the east). Once you have passed north of the two houses you can turn east (at SN73138014 and make your way up to the barrows.
Visited 26th November 2003: This was a fleeting visit, having persuaded a colleague to tag along after a work visit to Swansea. We drove right up the drive and parked in a little car park near the cairn. It was overcast, the light was fading and it soon began spitting with rain. Having only seen photos of the site I was surprised how small it was, not so much in length but in the height of masonry.
Almost as soon as we got to the cairn my camera stopped working. From the few shots I got, only one came out without camera shake. Must go back again under better circumstances.
Visited 22nd November 2003: William and I climbed Dinas, me with Alfie on my back. The plan was to get the boys out of the house so that Louise could work. Will coped well with the gradient (genuinely enthusiastic), especially as he was only four. Alfie slept most of the time (no enthusiasm there).
By the time we got to the top there wasn’t much sunshine left. The oblique light worked to emphasize the contours of the fortifications, so it was easy to take photos. The views of the surrounding hills and Dinas Reservoir were as stunning as I remembered from the last time I climbed up to the fort. It got chilly as the sun set, and with the light fading we headed back downhill to the car, making it before it got dark.
RCAHMS records available through CANMORE (NMRS Number: NB23SW 33) describe the cairn in detail. Here’s a snippet (with 6 figure grid reference):
NB 2179 3473 In the course of road widening through Breasclete, a hitherto unknown kerb cairn of unusual morphology was revealed. Located 1.6km from the Callanish standing stones, the new site seems to form part of the wider ceremonial complex. When soil stripping for the road improvement scheme began, R and M Curtis discovered a scatter of flaked quartz on the line of the road. Work on the road was delayed by Western Isles Council whilst an excavation was carried out between October and December 1995.
The remainder of the cairn was rebuilt in 1999.
Visited 9th December 2003: Old Warren is now tree covered, sitting above the slightly dilapidated Nanteos Mansion. It is managed as a nature reserve by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, and is accessible to the public from the south.
I visited the fort for the first time following reports that a paintball company was applying for permission to use the adjoining woodland. When I got there it turned out that there is no shared perimeter between the two pieces of land, although they are very close. The archaeology is unlikely to be effected by the paintballing, although the nature reserve may suffer from the noise.
Apparently the fort is the largest single-ditched hillfort in Wales. This may well be true, but it’s hard to get a good idea of the layout of the defences because of the foliage. I was interested to see relatively new wooden steps built into one of the defensive banks. This struck me as a bit unnecessary, especially given the small number of visitors that the site gets.
Taken 6th December 2003: The smaller southern barrow, covered in moss. The modest hill Mynydd Ffynnon-Wen behind it. Between the two hills runs Afon Tuen, a tributary of the Rheidol.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 6th December 2003: The larger northern barrow, with the Rheidol Windfarm behind it on Bwa Drain. Note the pronounced ditch surrounding the barrow.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 6th December 2003: This is the larger of the two barrows (the northern one) with the moon rising behind it.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th November 2003: The only photo that I managed to take without camera shake, before the camera stopped working.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 22nd November 2003: This is the point where the sun started going down, and I realised we had better get off the mountain before we got very cold.
The bump in the slope is the rampart on the western side of the fort. It’s easy to see why this side of the settlement didn’t need much in the way of artificial defenses. I was teetering o the edge to get this shot.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 22nd November 2003: William walking up to the highest point of the fort. The ridge he’s walking on appears to be natural, but behind him is the southern defence, the reeds to the left marking the original entrance. In the background is Dinas Reservoir with the Cambrian Hills running away into the distance.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 22nd November 2003: The rampart on the western side of the fort. This is the side that’s best protected by the topography of the hill, so this bank and ditch is realtively small compared to the others. The hill in the distance is cairn topped Disgwylfa Fawr.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 22nd November 2003: Here is the view along the defensive ditch on the south side of the fort. The reeds mark the original entrance.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 22nd November 2003: Here is Lle’r Neuaddau Circle as viewed from Dinas Hillfort. The red arrow indicates where the circle is, and the detail gives a slightly better idea what it looks like from this angle.
Note Afon Rheidol running across the bottom left corner of the frame (where the caravan is), and much clearer, the small tributary running to the right of the circle. Lle’r Neuaddau, Hirnant and Dolgamfa all share proximity with the Rheidol, and it seems more than likely that this was planned. A sacred river running from the feet of a sacred mountain (Pumlumon)?
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 9th December 2003: Viewed from the lane to the north east, Old Warren Hillfort looks singularly unimpressive. It’s almost entirely hidden in the trees on the horizon in the middle of the shot. You can just make out the contours of the hill reflected in the tops of the trees.
Image credit: Simon Marshall