The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Miscellaneous Posts by Kammer

Latest Posts
Showing 1-20 of 193 miscellaneous posts. Most recent first | Next 20

Barclodiad-y-Gawres (Chambered Cairn)

I rang up Wayside Stores this afternoon, to see whether access was still possible. They told me that, as of this year, they no longer hold a key. Apparently Cadw are running occasional open days though.

K x

Kerloas (Standing Stone / Menhir)

At 9.5 metres, Kerloas Menhir is the tallest standing stone to remain erect. In the English Edition of The Megaliths of Brittany (ISBN: 2-87747-063-6) Jacques Briard states that the stone was originally over 10 metres high, but the tip was struck off during a thunder storm "some centuries ago", bits landing in a nearby farm. At it's base the menhir has two very feminine looking lumps. The stone is granite, and is thought to have been transported 3km from L'Aber Ildut.

Plas Newydd Burial Chamber (Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech)

I rang the National Trust today to ask if it might be possible to visit the chamber. I was told that the land around it is used by Chesire County Council for childrens' outdoor activities, and is therefor out of bounds for National Trust Visitors. The argument is that it's unsafe for members of the public to be given free access to an area where children are playing!

I gather that it doesn't matter whether schools are using the land at the time of a proposed visit or not. The agreement has been entered into between the National Trust and Chesire County Council, and it is apparently inflexible. What has the world come to?!

Parc Bach (Burial Chamber)

This site is described in the National Monument Record (accessible via Coflein and Historic Wales as a megalithic structure/summer house and is classified "Early Medieval?". The following text is given as the site description:
A peculiar 'megalithic' structure set on a low hillock overlooking and to the W of Dolbadarn Castle.

It is primarily defined by two large orthostatic slabs set parallel to each other some 3m apart forming two sides of a square structure which has low pillars at each corner. Contiguous with the NE corner pillar is a larger 2m high squarish 'standing stone'. Numerous other blocks lie scattered about and the whole area is raised some 0.5m above the surrounding hillside.
The eight figure grid reference for the site is SH58455977, and the National Primary Record Number (NPRN) is 300841.

Carn Saith-Wraig (Cairn(s))

The word 'wraig' is mutated from 'gwraig', which means woman or wife.

The cairn to the north is a ring cairn, and it's labelled Carn Saith-Wraig on the old Ordnance Survey maps. The cairn to the south is a badly damaged round cairn, and it is unlabelled on the maps. On the National Monument Record it carries name Saith-Wraig, Round Cairn but I suspect this is by association with its neighbour.

The reason I mention all this is that you can't have the name 'Carn Saith-Wraig' for more than one cairn. The word 'carn' means cairn, not cairns. The plural is 'Carneddau', so if both sites shared the name they would collectively be called 'Carneddau Saith-Wraig'... I think.

Llech Ciste (Stone Row / Alignment)

A description from Coflein implies that Llech Ciste is interpretted, not as a stone row, but as a standing stone with other (suspect?) stones around it:
A white quartz stone, 2.8m long by 1.0m wide by 0.8m thick, now semi-recumbent, having other stones, or boulders, associated with it. The site is no longer considered to represent the remains of a burial chamber.
The name Llech Ciste implies a single stone, the word 'llech' being singular. Presumably the word 'ciste' is to do with the site being interpretted as a burial chamber.

The eight figure grid reference for the site is SN51422832, and the National Primary Record Number (NPRN) is 303977.

Stanley Mill (Standing Stone / Menhir)

The eight figure grid reference for this site is SH26647888 according to Coflein.

It's described as, "an undressed, erect monolith, 1.6m high by 1.4m by 1.4m". The National Primary Record Number (NPRN) is 302269 in case anyone wants to run a search for it.

Tinkinswood (Burial Chamber)

Coflein lists the mysterious looking stones that lie near Tinkinswood, but doesn't go so far as to say anything definate:
A variety of stones, to the E & SE of Tinkinswood Cairn (Nprn94510), that have variously been described as standing stones &/or chambered tombs...

Generally described as being non-natural features.

Maen Cattwg (Cup Marked Stone)

A note by J Wiles in the National Monument Record (NMR), available via Coflein, describes Maen Catwg as,
A roughly rectangular prostrate stone, 2.6m by 1.7m and 0.6m thick. There are 33-50 cup-marks on the upper surface of the stone, which has been suggested to have been the capstone of a collapsed megalithic chamber.
The NMR also describes a second cupmarked stone discovered in 1990 by T Driver (him again) in a pile of cleared boulders in a field near Maen Cattwg. The record states that, "the present status of the second carved stone is not known". I think that means they lost it.

The eight figure grid reference given for Maen Catwg is ST12709742 and the National Primary Record Number (NPRN) is 93097.

Sarn-y-Bryn-Caled (Destroyed) (Timber Circle)

The Sarn-y-Bryn Caled timber circle was initially identified as a cropmark in grass field (there was nothing of the circle visible on the surface). The site consisted of a circular setting of 20 post pits with a diameter of about 17m, with some disturbance at the centre in the alluvial plain of the River Severn.

In 1990 the site was totally excavated by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) in advance of the construction of the Welshpool Relief Road.

Madryn Castle Settlement (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork)

Described by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust as a 'circular feature' (Reference: 3633), this site is by no means a definate prehistoric hut circle.

Cefn Graenog Cairn II (Cairn(s))

The National Monument Record, available via Coflein, gives an extremely brief description of Cefn Graenog Cairn II:
A mutilated cairn, c.18m in diameter and 1.0m high. Recently consolidated.
The eight figure grid reference given for the cairn is SH45504913 and the National Primary Record Number (NPRN) is 93559.

Cefn Graenog Cairn I (Cairn(s))

The National Monument Record, available via Coflein, gives a very brief description of Cefn Graenog, Cairn I:
A round cairn, 9.45m in diameter and 0.8m high, kerbed by stones up to 0.6m high, overlain by a current field wall on the SE.
The eight figure grid reference given for the cairn is SH45514918 and the National Primary Record Number (NPRN) is 93558.

Graeanog Standing Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir)

The National Monument Record, available via Coflein, describes Graeanog Standing Stone thus:
An erect monolith, 3.05m high by 0.9m by 0.68m, set 7.0m SE of a kerbed cairn (Nprn93558), with a second cairn (Nprn93559), c.35m SSW.
The eight figure grid reference given for the stone is SH45524917 and the National Primary Record Number (NPRN) is 93557.

It's worth noting that there's a duplicate record for this site (NPRN: 302389) listed on Coflein. In other words what appears to be two standing stones is in fact one.

Tal-y-Braich Cairn (Cairn(s))

Alongside Taly-y-Braich Cairn is a standing stone, thought by some to be the possible remains of a stone circle that encompassed the cairn. Coflein describes the two sites (listed seperately):
Burial cairn, probably Bronze Age, on the lower south-west facing slopes of Cwm Tal-y-braich. Circular stone built cairn, measuring c. 9m in diameter and up to 0.6m in height. Has been disturbed in the past, with a small hollow visible in its centre.
Standing stone measuring 0.9m in height by 0.75m in width and 0.35m in thickness. The stone leans towards the west - may be the sole surviving upright of a stone circle originally surrounding the cairn (NPRN 302997), though positions of the possible remaining stones not conclusive.
The eight figure grid reference given for the cairn is SH70526080.

Afon Bedal Cist

I've not visited this site, but I stumbled across the following description of the cist on Coflein:
Burial cist, probably Bronze Age, on the lower south-west facing slopes of Cwm Tal-y-braich. A stone built subrectangular cist measuring c. 1.9m from north-east to south-west by c. 0.9m transversely within several large earthfast orthostats up to 0.3m in height. Cist has been disturbed in the past, with what is probably a large capstone lying immediately to the north-west, resting at an angle on the orthostat at the south-west end.
The eight figure grid reference given is SH70606081.

Caer Allt-Goch (Hillfort)

A report in the National Monument Record (available via Coflein) gives a brief description of Caer Allt-Goch:
An enclosure set uopn [sic] & about the summit of an isolated hilltop knoll: the enclosure, 140m north-east to south-west by 40m, tapering to the south-west, is defined by a single bank on the north-east...
The author of the above is J Wiles, who also suggests that there is evidence of mining at Allt-Goch.

Caer Lletty-Llwyd (Hillfort)

A report by Toby Driver in the National Monument Record (available through Coflein) describes Caer Lletty-Llwyd as, "a triangular hillfort", although it's described elsewhere as oval in plan.

Driver also alludes to the original entrance to the fort:
The position of the original gateway is uncertain, suggesting the open parts of the hillfort have been altered in the past through cultivation or improvement. The gate may have lain on the north side where an oblique track gives access to the monument today.

Hen Gaer (Hillfort)

The National Monument Record, available through Coflein describes Hen Gaer in quite a bit of detail:
Hen Gaer is a strong and imposing fortress, commanding panoramic views over the lowland basins north of the Rheidol, north to Caer Pwll Glas and beyond to the Dyfi Estuary. The fort is of massive construction. Carefully laid stone blocks of original rampart walling can be seen exposed on the northeast side. The rampart measures about 12m wide overall and still stands in places to a height of 3-4m (Hogg, Cardiganshire County History 1994, 264), with an outer rock-cut ditch (best visible on the northeast).
Hen Gaer is unusual in that part of the rampart encloses a considerable hillslope to the south, avoiding a more level summit position to the north, which must have made the construction of houses in the southern part very difficult. One possible explanation of this non-utilitarian siting is that the fort had a role to command the ridge, but also to exert a degree of influence over, and to remain highly visible from, the restricted lowland basin at the confluence of the Afon Stewi and Silo to the south.
The author of the above is Toby Driver, local hillfort expert.

Maen Llwyd (Bronaber) (Standing Stone / Menhir)

An erect monolith, 1.4m high by 0.6m by 0.6m, leaning to the SW & tapering.
Source: OS 495 Card from RCAHMW records.
Showing 1-20 of 193 miscellaneous posts. Most recent first | Next 20
I live in a small Welsh seaside town on the west coast. As well as being well placed for visiting the local sites, it's relatively easy to get to sites in south Wales, north Wales and the borders.

If you'd like to use one of the photos I've posted on this site please contact the TMA Eds who'll pass the message on ([email protected]).

Some of my favourite prehistoric sites:
Avebury (England)
Calanais (Scotland)
Castlerigg (England)
Dolgamfa (Wales)
Gavrinis (France)
Kernic (France)
Pentre Ifan (Wales)
La Roche-aux-Fées (France)
Stones of Stennes (Scotland)
Wayland's Smithy (England)

Kammer x

My TMA Content: