Image credit: Matthew Shaw
Sites within Bryn Celli Ddu
Images
Image credit: ruskus
Image credit: ruskus
Image credit: ruskus
Image credit: ruskus
12 April 2016 CE
12 April 2016 CE
12 April 2016 CE
Image credit: texlahoma
Image credit: texlahoma
Looking down the passage to the chamber, lit by light from the low sun coming through the blocked portal.
Image credit: A. Brookes (18.7.2016)
Image credit: A. Brookes (18.7.2016)
The replica of the astonishing decorated stone.
Image credit: A. Brookes (18.7.2016)
Hard to imagine a more perfect evening to arrive here.
Image credit: A. Brookes (18.7.2016)
Image credit: texlahoma
Image credit: texlahoma
Image credit: texlahoma
September 2015
Image credit: Michael Mitchell
September 2015
Image credit: Michael Mitchell
September 2015
Image credit: Michael Mitchell
September 2015
Image credit: Michael Mitchell
Image credit: Carol27
Bryn Celli Ddu standing stone with rock art (replacement/replica)
Image credit: Carol27
Bryn Celli Ddu Entrance – Side View
Image credit: Carol27
Six small submerged stones in front of the entrance to Bryn Celli Ddu
Image credit: Carol27
Bryn Celli Dhu entrance lintel with carvings.
Image credit: carol27
Inside Bryn Celli Ddu
Image credit: Carol27
Image credit: ttj
Image credit: tjj
Image credit: tjj
Taken 1911 – The Megalithic Remains of Anglesey
Image credit: Edward Neil Baynes
Taken 1911 – The Megalithic Remains of Anglesey
Image credit: Edward Neil Baynes
On the inside looking out.
Taken 30.12.2012
Image credit: jones-y-gog
Taken 30.11.2012
Image credit: jones-y-gog
Eric says “yeeeah maaaan”
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
The back of the amazing stone on the inside. (quartz pebbles gone)
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
and the amazing passageway
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: A. Brookes (13.6.2012)
The Glyders provide an awesome backdrop to an already awesome site.
Image credit: A. Brookes (13.6.2012)
The “tree” stone in the chamber, showing a collection of white pebbles that has been left around the base.
Image credit: A. Brookes (13.6.2012)
The forecourt and blocked portal.
Image credit: A. Brookes (13.6.2012)
The gorsedd sparkles in the sun to the left. The cast stone has weathered to a nicely incongruous grey now.
Image credit: A. Brookes (13.6.2012)
Image credit: JohnAko 2011
The ‘Owl Stick’ on Bryn Celli Ddu.
Image credit: JohnAko 2011
Image credit: A. Brookes (10.11.2011)
The original decorated stone, now displayed in the National Museum of Wales.
Image credit: A. Brookes (10.11.2011)
Small stone bead on display at the National Museum of Wales.
Image credit: A. Brookes (10.11.2011)
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Illustration from Archaeologia Cambrensis (1847)
Image credit: Copyright expired
Sunlight warming the passageway, Sunrise midsummers day. This is reflected light from sun reddened clouds, but it gives a good idea of how the Solstice sunrise would look if the nearby farmhouse wasn’t in the way.
Image credit: cerrig
Sunrise, midsummers day.
Image credit: cerrig
Image credit: Dave Berry
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
21.12.08
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
21.12.08
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
The standing stone in the chamber showing the bark textures of petrified wood. The split bark is clearly visible revealing underlying woodgrain. It is also possible that the oval shape of smoother texture at upper right is where a branch was removed. The ridges running across the oval are characteristic of a series of strikes... certainly what my wood chopping looks like.
Image credit: Image © Rupert Soskin/Standing With Stones
Someone’s been lighting a candle.
Image credit: skins
Jan 08
Image credit: skins
jan 08
Image credit: skins
Image credit: skins
Jan 08
Image credit: skins
Jan 08
Image credit: skins
Image credit: W J Hemp
Image credit: W J Hemp
Image credit: W J Hemp
View along axis of forecourt ; stones filling post-holes in foreground. Note dry walling of circle 3 adjoining stone 18
Image credit: W J Hemp
Outer side of stones 5 and 3 ; packing blocks in situ
Image credit: W J Hemp
Area south of portal. Inner slope of ditch. Part of filling remains on which rests circle 3 (stones 18 and 20 and walling connecting them). Bead found in bottom left-hand corner
Image credit: W J Hemp
The three broken recumbent stones by ‘b‘
Image credit: W J Hemp
Circle 2 opposite stone ‘d’ with walling between and upon uprights.
Image credit: W J Hemp
Diagrammatic drawing of Pattern stone showing continuity of design (scale 1/12th)
books.google.co.uk/books?id=d0nwILR1UQEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
(WF – sure this image will be a winner with all the Rock Art spotters)
Image credit: W J Hemp
Pattern stone before removal ; stone 3 on right and small packing blocks between (perpendicular view)
Image credit: W J Hemp
Forecourt, post-holes, pit containing ox, and upright stones bounding north side.
Image credit: W J Hemp
Spiral on stone 4
Image credit: W J Hemp
Clay-set wall as first uncovered, and dressed edge of stone 7
Image credit: W J Hemp
Chamber from the NE before treatment
Image credit: W J Hemp
General Plan. The shaded area represents the approximate extent of the ditch. The outermost circle marks the base of the cairn.
Image credit: W J Hemp
12th October 2005
Image credit: Michael Mitchell
12th October 2005
Image credit: Michael Mitchell
12th October 2005
Image credit: Michael Mitchell
The passage to the chamber,from inside the chamber.
Image credit: Mike Murray
The strange Standing Stone at the center of the chamber.
Image credit: Mike Murray
Looking back at the way in.
Image credit: Mike Murray
This is the way into the chamber,through an iron gate.
Image credit: Mike Murray
check out that weird standing stone and those ghastly concrete lintels! Yuk!
Image credit: Moth Clark
Image credit: Moth Clark
this stone is in the same field as the gorsedd
Image credit: christopher bickerton
Bryn Celli Ddu – Sunset Jan 2006
Image credit: AndyB
Looking out the rear of the chamber towards the standing stone.
Image credit: treehugger-uk
Taken in January 05, sunset through entrance.
Image credit: skins
The other side of the carved stone (now in the National Museum and Art Gallery, Cardiff).
I visited the National Museum and Art Gallery in Cardiff, and found the carved stone from Bryn Celli Ddu far from its home. The carved lines are quite faint – this drawing is probably not the most precise of copies, but it gives you the idea. It’s quite a big stone and you can walk round it. I don’t remember it being enclosed in a glass case as in Kammer’s picture. But that could be my bad memory.
Image credit: Rhiannon
Taken Summer 1992: Rainbow over Bryn Celli Ddu.
I have very few recollections of this visit to Bryn Celli Ddu, which I guess was my second. I stumbled across this photo recently and thought I’d post it.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 17th January 2004: Finds from Bryn Celli Ddu, now exhibited at the National Museum and Galleries of Wales in Cardiff.
The item at the top is a mudstone bead, on the right is a flint scraper, at the bottom a flint chisel-ended arrow head, and on the left a flint blade.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Photo taken 2003
account writteen 2004
(editted 5 july 2006)
I have had this image posted under Bryn Celli Ddu Gorsedd for some time. I have now decided to move the photo to Brynn Celli Ddu as well – as I used to consider it to be quite an important shot which could easilly be missed in its old position. Hope you get as much from it as I did and indeed still do – (but not anymore).
* This photo was taken from the top of the gorsedd, you can see the shadow of myself and Paul in the shot
* Notice how the shape of the shadow outlines the shape of the mound itself
After initial excitement about this photo, I have since read a brief account on the recent history of this site and its fair to say that the tumulous has had some reconstruction. This though does not detract the interest value and could be an insight into the minds of both the ancients and the modern restorers.
As a footnote the carved stone was found lying flat and the restorers stood it up.. but.. on the shadow there is a flat bit where the stone once lay.. mmmmmm
Image credit: broen
Taken 17th January 2004: The original carved stone from Bryn Celli Ddu, now installed in the National Museum and Galleries of Wales in Cardiff and replaced with a copy. BrigantesNation is pondering the display case in the background.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 17th January 2004: The original carved stone from Bryn Celli Ddu, now installed in the National Museum and Galleries of Wales in Cardiff and replaced with a copy.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
This is an old photo from 1983. The only excuse for posting it is that it shows the original decorated stone.
At a later visit in 1994, the original decorated stone had been removed but this cast was on display at Caernarfon Castle – presumably the cast now at the site.
This is the N side of the stone. The art continues over the top onto the S side – see next image.
S side of cast of decorated stone.
Standing stone, E wall of chamber and passage.
Passage looking to entrance.
Not so much a great picture of Bryn Celli Ddu, but this shows just how powerful the area is in winter. Awesome mountains abound!
Image credit: rangzen
Inside the chamber....
Image credit: Tim Clark
With Gorsedd in background – if you can see past the dazzle of the hideous cast replica of the standing stone....
Image credit: Tim Clark
The replica stone looks OK in this pic...
Image credit: Tim Clark
6 mth old Mothling in backpack thingy for scale.... (The ‘pretend’ cast standing stone really does look horrible in the sun doesn’t it?)
Image credit: Tim Clark
This view shows Bryn Celli Ddu with the rocky outcrop Gorsedd in the distance. Each time I’ve visited this site its been such an experience. First time round bumped into a couple of students meditating the afternoon away inside whilst waiting for the ferry to Ireland! Second time around, when approaching the chamber along the new pathway and to the rear, my partner and I could make out voices coming from the direction of the mound. Upon venturing inside we expected to see other intrepid explorers but the place was absolutely empty! (Of living beings anyway)Weird!! In the right light (or with a torch) it is possible to see the exquisite patterns on the inner stones. The pananoramic views from the top of the mound of the surrounding area and Yr Wyddfa range are superb. A definite must see along with Barclodiad Y Gawres!!
Bryn Celli Ddu – side stones – I realise this picture may not add a great deal to the pics already here, but I’ve added it because it’s B&W and because it was taken circa August 1993 and may be useful from a historic point of view.
Image credit: Martin Bull
Image credit: MP Howden 27.5.98
Image credit: MP Howden 27.5.98
1/4/02
Reproduction furniture.
Image credit: broen
02/01/03ce
Wide shot of Bryn Celli Ddu, taken from up on the fence, perched on one leg, etc etc etc..........
Mid-afternoon sunlight streams in to the chamber.
Image credit: M. Thornton
Can you read welsh? If so, post a translation please.
Image credit: John O'Brien
Articles
GWREIDDIAU / ROOTS was the 10th year anniversary of the Bryn Celli Ddu landscape project, based at the internationally important 5,000 year old passage tomb, Ynys Môn.
Think Creatively worked in collaboration with Cadw, Manchester Metropolitan University, GeoMôn, Galeri Caernarfon, Oriel Môn, Stone Club, Anglesey Druid Order, Rhys Mwyn and supported Welsh artists to deliver a series of workshops, walks, talks and excavations.
Matthew Shaw of Stone Club hosted the Q&A and created the soundscape capturing the voices of visitors experiences of the site to the backdrop of the fantastic film footage captured by Adam Stanford.
Take an archaeologist, a bored schoolgirl living through coronavirus lockdown, and a shared interest in exploring ancient tombs.
More info :
“Previously unknown Anglesey landscape possibly includes cairn cemetery in what experts described as ‘really exciting stuff’
Archaeologists have uncovered a prehistoric ritual landscape that possibly includes a cairn cemetery around a 5,000-year-old burial mound aligned with the summer solstice sun on Anglesey.
Though far less famous than Stonehenge, the spectacle of sunlight shining down a long narrow passage to light up the inner chamber of Bryn Celli Ddu on the longest day of the year is unforgettable. Excavation now suggests the site had significance for prehistoric people that lasted for millennia after the earth mound was raised over a stone passage grave.”
More here...
I don’t know whether Rupert Soskin posts here any more (if he does come on to discuss this I will delete this entry). I’ve just read this on the Facebook “Standing with Stones” page and, having not long since visited Bryn Celli Ddu, found it Very Interesting indeed.
Below is Rupert’s FB post:
“Hi folks, Rupert here.
I thought it important to share this as many of you have expressed an interest. I was contacted last night on Twitter by Ffion Reynolds who had been to Bryn Celli Ddu with a geologist who identified the ‘tree’ pillar as blueschist – i.e rock, not fossil.
Now, the interesting thing about blueschist is that it is a metamorphic rock which only forms in extremely particular circumstances, best explained by this quote from the United States Geological Survey’s website:
...................................
For many years geologists have been able to relate individual facies to the pressure and temperature conditions of metamorphism.
But they had no satisfactory explanation for the geologic processes that form metamorphic rocks, that is, until the theory of plate tectonics emerged.
One good example is this relatively rare metamorphic rock called “blue schist.”
Experimental work had shown that the minerals in blue schist form only under very unusual metamorphic conditions.
These conditions are a pressure range equivalent to a depth of 15 to 30 kilometers in the crust and a very cool temperature, only 200 to 400 degrees centigrade.
That’s the approximate cooking temperature of a kitchen oven or toaster.
At a depth of 15 to 30 kilometers, however, the temperature is normally about twice as hot, 500 to 750 degrees centigrade.
So the only way that rocks can be metamorphosed to blue schist facies , is to be quickly shoved down to those extreme depths and then rapidly brought back up before the rocks have time to heat up completely.
And that’s exactly what happens where two tectonic plates are colliding in a subduction zone.
In fact, blue schist bearing rocks normally occur in long linear zones that mark ancient plate subduction boundaries.
..................................
One of the principal reasons I clung to the fossil theory was the cylindrical tree-trunk shape which had clearly not been cut, despite all previous descriptions of it being ‘carefully worked’.
The formation of blueschist could allow a seam of cooling rock to literally roll up between the tectonic plates rather like a piece of seaside rock.
This leaves us with two, rather lovely points:
One: The builders of Bryn Celli Ddu would know no difference, it was still a magical stone tree.
And Two: Metamorphic rock does not form in conveniently sized pieces. There must be more.”
“Residents will get the chance to see the dig in action at the Neolithic Bryn Celli Ddu site during a fortnight-long event which ends with a Summer Solstice celebration.
An ancient tomb on Anglesey will be excavated this summer as part of a two-week long archeology event.
The Neolithic passage tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu is one of Wales’s best-known prehistoric monuments.
The fortnight-long event starts on June 9 and will culminate in a public open day and celebration of the Summer Solstice from June 19-22.
The excavation of the tomb will be led by the Welsh Government’s historic environment service Cadw and Manchester Metropolitan University.
It is hoped it will break new ground exploring the landscape’s ‘rock art’- a term used in archaeology to describe the human-made markings discovered in natural stone.”
More at Daily Post:
This was the first site we visited on Sunday 31/5/2015. Easy access via quite a long path up to the burial chamber – to get to it involves crossing a small bridge and river, there was something about this that reminded me of Stoney Littleton. Anyway, suffice to say it lived up to expectations in spite of being extensively restored. The stone pillar was of course an enigma; the mysterious stone with spirals is in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff – a day trip I can make from home soon to take a closer look (see photo of information board).
The midsummer solstice solar alignment is well documented on the interpretation board over in the small car park.
Visited 11.9.12
My penultimate CADW site.
Well sign posted; large car park and a level, information boards and a gravelled path leading direct to the site.
Nice and easy for a change!
Karen stayed in the car while Sophie and myself made the longer than expected walk (10 minutes) to the tomb.
As with nearly every site I visited on Anglesey this week we had the place to ourselves.
When seeing Bryn Celli Ddu for the first time it is an impressive sight – like a mini Maes Howe – without the need to pre-book a visit!
We first walked right around the Burial Chamber before entering from the far side.
During this walk I noticed a large stone in the next field – anything to do with the tomb?
Sophie was a little apprehensive at first but thought it was fun when I put her head light on. (This wasn’t really needed as it was fairly light inside)
The thing I was most interested in having a look at was the supposed ‘fossilised tree’ standing stone inside the chamber.
At first glance it just looked like a normal standing stone but the more I looked at it the more ‘tree-like’ it became.
The stone is very ‘trunk like’ – rounded like a pillar (or tree trunk!) and the side facing you does have ‘bark-like’ markings although the opposite side shows no such markings.
It would be fascinating to know if this is in fact a fossilised tree or not?
Either way, there was something I had never seen before in a Burial Chamber next to the standing stone – a Weegie Board!
On top of which as an ‘offering’ of a bunch of lavender (I think).
I wonder if they got a response?
It goes without saying that this is a ‘must see’ site.
Probably the best prehistoric site on Anglesey.
Re-visited 21.12.11
Those familiar with this great site will know all about it, but two things struck me this morning as I waited alone for daybreak – why the junk and vandalism and the mysterious ‘Owl Stick’?
A piece of broken, candle-wax encrusted vase at the base of the mound and plastic bottles and mud-hand prints and dawbings across the concrete lintel (the modern unsympathetic strenghtening) inside the chamber.
Who placed the ‘Owl Stick’ in the top of the mound?
This is one of my favourite sites, but have not yet ventured over to view it from the gorsedd stone. As the farmer was already inhis fields tending to his flock in the breaking light I chose to walk around the other side of the gorsedd, down the lane towards his farm and got a great new perspective of the site.
Until next time.
Not going to go on about this place too much as it’s one of my favourite places and it was one of my first megalithic trips , suffice to say I love it.
I love the passageway and the chamber stones, especially the menhir, I love the solar alignments and the stone of the enigma’s albeit a fake one but it is now looking more aged than my first time.
There has been much talk of a spiral in side the chamber, but it is very indistinct and in my opinion it may not be a bonafide example of rockart. However the cupmarks on the nearby Gorsedd are distinct and easy to find, once you know they’re there.
Brinkly doo as I know it is a sweetheart of mine anyone found messing with her will feel my wrath. (no really)
As people say, this is stunning, It was quite exciting being here. I have always wanted to come here but never had the opportunity. Another ambition achieved.
This was the other site with which Kate had seduced me, on a golden day in late October. It was just as beautiful this time round. The vibrant green mound stood out wonderfully against the cerulean blue sky, and commanded a stunning view of Eryri. The uprights and other stones at both sides of the mound were covered with the fluffy, frondy grey-green lichens seen at Trefignath. As ever, the menhir inside the mound just blew me away. I love Bryn Celli Ddu; it has the most wonderful energy and a low, thrumming magicalness. The other thing that thrummed was the back of my head, after I cracked it against the interior lintel – the type of blow to the skull that makes anyone else present want to throw up.
I noticed that some thoughtful people had left an offering to the Goddess on a stone ledge inside the chamber. Millennia ago, the Goddess was often honoured with a burnt sacrifice of a prized bull, a sheep or two, or a few goats – now she has to make do with a handful of peanuts, a wizened crab apple, and couple of torn Quality Street wrappers. Quality indeed.
A stunning grassy mound within a small henge, in all but proportion, just like the green sombrero of Maeshowe. Even my kids fell for its charms, not least because you can get inside and grub around. There’s an intriguing standing stone inside the chamber, which must have been built around it. There are also two really nasty, ugly concrete lintels shoved in during restoration, which made me a bit cross. The ditch of the henge is, unusually, lined with large stones.
Visited with our eldest son close to sunset in January (wife sulking at being left in car with sleepy youngest). The sunset is splendid over the mound and a usually cynical seven year old showed a great interest in the site and standing watching the sunset with me.
Strangely he was also determined to go into the (very dark) chamber despite usually being very timid and unhappy in dark enclosed spaces – he led the way in and explored happily, and largely by touch. The sound of Dad walking hard into a (harder) stone in the chamber added to the sense of enjoyment and briefly led to a trance like (or is that stunned) state for me.
There obviously something about the place that a even a manic seven year old (and mildly concussed 30 something) can pick up, the sense of peace pervades – a perfect end to a day
The offerings of feathers and wild flowers show continued interest respect for the site. Not sure what the marking on the beam inside are about – we have our theory but could only see them clearly in the flash photo taken when leaving?
Bryn Celli Ddu just gets better and better with each return visit, although the small restored mound can look a little odd from certain angles....
Opposite the chambers entrance on the outer edge of the ditch are a number of small kerbstones. Excavation revealed them to be the remains of a stone and timber enclosure that contain the burial of an ox (see Rhiannon’s Folklore entry below).
In many ways a fantastic site, but it seemed a bit processed to me somehow... Maybe it was the iron gate that had been added to the entrance for no apparent reason, or maybe it was just ‘cos I saw so much good stuff beforehand (Bodowyr & Trefignath) that I got spoilt. Why move a bit of a monument to a museum? The original stone surely looks better in its own setting than in a glass case.
Translation of the plaque at Bryn Celli Ddu:
This is a religious site (circa 2000BC) from the latter Neolithic era, which was built during two different periods. To begin with, a “henge” was built, with a ditch and a circle of standing stones (still visible from behind the mound). After that, a chamber made of stones was added where the remains of the dead were buried. This chamber was accessible by a path beneath the mound.
Translation by a Welsh speaking friend I asked a favour of – David Lloyd (cool guy who runs a cool Welsh language record label – https://www.dockrad.com). Apologies for the plug, but it’s kind of on-topic if you’re interested in the ‘language of heaven’.
I remember going here when I was a child, on a rainy holiday, crossing muddy fields to the chamber. Now a path has been place beside the stream that borders the field, and a wooden bridge crosses it. Inside the center of the chamber there is a standing stone, it is a beautiful thing, and you can imagine the chamber being placed around it. The passage way into the chamber is really atmospheric, with markings on the entrance. When I last went there someone had left five pence pieces and flowers inside the chamber.
Outside there is a ditch around the chamber. The original incribed stone has been replaced by a copy, the original lies in a museum now, what a shame.
In the field to the side of the chamber a standing stone is on a small knoll, looking over the chamber. It’s a great place to visit, even though the grassy mound has been restored.
So excited by the sight of this mound from the road I ran all the way down the path to it, all the way round it, inside at a scramble only to be stopped dead in my tracks by the fantastic stone within reminding me to take it easy, take my time and enjoy this and all the surroundings at a more mellow pace. It stands like a sentinel, a unique presence as if an altar and the reason for the chamber and mound themselves. I paid my respects and left mellowed.
Each time I’ve visited this site its been such an experience. First time round bumped into a couple of students meditating the afternoon away inside whilst waiting for the ferry to Ireland! Second time around, when approaching the chamber along the new pathway and to the rear, my partner and I could make out voices coming from the direction of the mound. Upon venturing inside we expected to see other intrepid explorers but the place was absolutely empty! (Of living beings anyway)Weird!! In the right light (or with a torch) it is possible to see the exquisite patterns on the inner stones. The pananoramic views from the top of the mound of the surrounding area and Yr Wyddfa range are superb. A definite must see along with Barclodiad Y Gawres!!
I returned here to show a friend the site and this visit was even more rewarding than the last. What strikes me most with Bryn Celli Ddu is the mysterious stone, a remnant of the earlier stone circle, within the chamber – I’ve had dreams about it, and seeing it here again just knocks me out. The mound is nowhere near the size of the major Boyne Valley sites, but it is somehow reminiscent, and definitely every bit as stunning.
This site left us stunned, everything about it is perfect (apart from the reproduction stone). Within the monuments chamber stands a single monolith, adding an ambience I’ve never felt in a burial chamber before.
If you climb over the fence of the car park and walk into the field about half a mile away from the tomb there are three or four large rocky outcrops which are very comfortable to sit on and you can have an amazing panoramic view of Snodonia which form another piece of the complex landscape here. The bulls in the field were also quite scary at first when they circled me at a distance and blocked the way back to my tent but they turned out to be quite friendly after I decided to become a vegetarian. A white bull also stood by my tent in the morning and had a conversation with a horse in the morning when I got up. It is a sweet place to stay.
Family favorite... lost count of the number of times I have visited here, sneaking off from Bangor Uni or taking people here for picnics. I’ve even seen it from the air once, on a pleasure flight from Caernarfon air port. It’s a perfect circle. What can be said?
The high light on 18/01/01 was meeting two old guys from Porthmadoc, who were both pretty clued up on the place, (and other sites in Snowdonia).
There has been a good car park built since I was last here (used to park on the verge) and a proper footpath. The farmer must have got pissed off with Pagans walking across his land at midnight on the solstices.
I always come away from here with a reasurance of our survial as a race, that we are still here, and that the Ancient ones are just with us all along the way. And I’m glad that there are folk out there who lovingly tend sites like this, be they archaeologists or visionaries (or both).
A magical site despite its renovation that receives too little attention in the MA in my opinion. I visited it last some five years ago with my 13 month old son and Helen my partner. We were both fascinated by its situation in geographical terms (Meni Straits and Snowdonia close by) and continuing social terms (the local primary school is very close and the children were coming out as we arrived giving the site a very active living atmosphere for some reason). The most significant discovery we made that I have not seen mentioned anywhere else is the stone pillar that stands in(side) the centre of the barrow. Presumably re-placed there in the restoration, it has a finished surface and one spectacular property. When struck this stone emitted a bell like tone, and as a musician I would say it was close to an e natural but this is really a guess. It reminded me of a Tibetan singing bowl that I own having a similar long “clean” resonance. I have seen a similar stone deep within in an obscure and difficult to access sacred cave in Northern Thailand. This however, is a stalagmite that rings like a bell when struck but was a similar shape and close to prehistoric (according to our guide) funeral remains (some stone coffins, there was also a small old Buddha in the darkness). The use of sound in ritual and consciousness expansion of course is commonplace and it seems likely that this was the function of both stones. I read a report of an article in antiquity by Paul Deveraux about the acoustics of the Carn Euny fougou suggesting that it resonated at the same frequency as the chanting of the male voice. The use of these spaces has been open to debate but the ritual function is by far the most likely of course and the modern investigator must try to envisage the range of techniques used to instigate trance and higher consciousness ecstatic states. All in all the area of acoustic research in mother holes and elsewhere is an avenue of enquiry that needs further investigation. I for one will be taking my Tibetan bowl with me to sites in the future and politely tapping any likely looking stones.
Whilst a farmer was removing some of the stones from the north east side of the larger carnedd to employ them in his repairs he came to the mouth of a passage covered with a square stone similar to that at Plas Newydd, anxious to reap the fruits of his discovery he procured a light and crept forward on his hands and knees along the dreary vault, when lo! in a chamber at the further end a figure in white seemed to forbid his approach.
The poor man had scarcely power sufficient to crawl backwards out of this den of spirits as he imagined however in the course of a few days instigated by the hopes of riches and the presence of many assistants he made his second entre into the cavern and finding the white gentleman did not offer to stir he boldly went forward and discovered the object of his apprehensions was no other than a stone pillar about six feet in height standing in the centre of the chamber.
His former consternation could now only be exceeded by his eagerness to see what was contained beneath the stone which he shortly overturned but treasure there was none, some large human bones lying near the pillar sufficiently testifying the purpose for which the structure was intended.
This is the substance of the account we received from the young man whose father was one of Colonel Peacock’s labourers and on the premises at the time of the discovery. The superstition of the common people still suppose this to be the habitation of spirits.
Our two conductors seeming rather to compliment each other about precedence I took the lanthorn and [crawled in].. my companions followed close at my heels.
He then mentions a ‘tribe of immense spiders who have reigned here unmolested for ages’ so that’s put me right off, far more than any talk of spirits.
From the fearless Rev. John Skinner’s ‘Ten Days’ Tour through the Isle of Anglesey’ (1804).
This site could have been important long before the henge as cones from postholes outside of this provided the unusually early date of 6000 BCE, long before Mona was settled
All images credited to ‘W J Hemp’ were added from a document entitled ‘The Chambered Cairn of Bryn Celli Ddu’ by W J Hemp FSA published in 1930, I presume after the digs in 1928/29. (misc post added for reference)
Whilst browsing round a second hand book store on the city walls of Chester, we found a book published in 1975 which showed a picture of Bryn Celli Ddu with the original outer stone in situ. This beautiful stone is hugely important to Bryn Celli Ddu.
We feel that the “stone” replica in its place absolutely takes away from this wonderful monument. Its whiteness grates with the rest of the site. Why is the original languishing in a museum in Cardiff where it is completely detached from its origins and therefore meaningless?
Wouldn’t it be great if, within our lifetime, we could see the stone returned to its proper home.
The translation of the site’s name may be the evocative ‘Hill of the dark/black grove’. In common with many prehistoric sites, Bryn Celli Ddu stands near water – the Afon Braint (named after Brigantia?) and also near two Llwyn Onn s – (ash groves – how Welsh do you want! though apparently they’re not planted with ashes any longer).
Excavations at the site have shown that before the present structure there was a bank with a standing stone(stones?) in the middle. Archaeologists found a series of large stones and a filled in hole, which they think may be the remains of a monolith and its socket – the toppling and destruction could have been symbolic in some way. Ronald Hutton suggests that the original henge may have been destroyed to build the passage grave on top of it “to pool the ritual force of both sorts of structure”. He also describes (in ‘Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles’) how an ox sacrifice was deposited in a pit just in front of the entrance.
Known as one of the most evocative archaeological sites in Britain, the 5,000-year old monument was once constructed to protect and pay respect to the remains of ancestors. It is the only site in Wales that has a solar alignment, where the sun casts a beam of light into the monument on the summer solstice.
Latest updates from Ffion Reynolds on the 2016 season landscape project, including excavation of Bronze Age cairn close to the chambered tomb and new cupmark discoveries on the ridge.
“Our new survey aimed to identify evidence for an external bank and to locate other unrecorded archaeological features within the scheduled area. Evidence for a bank would potentially inform understanding of the chrono-typological development of later Neolithic monuments across north-west Atlantic Europe, in Ireland, Wales and Scotland.”
The Megalithic Remains of Anglesey – 1911; written by Edward Neil Baynes
Short article about the recently revealed alignments at the site.
A BBC radio programme by Chris Dearden including an interview with Steve Burrow, the archaeologist who rediscovered the Summer Solstice alignment. Note the extremely lame ‘footsteps’ sound effect at the start.
There’s also a video clip on the BBC web site from a news item, first broadcast on Summer Solstice 2006. Both of these clips require Real Player.
This is where the original carved stone from Bryn Celli Ddu is now installed.
A photo of the carved stone from Bryn Celli Ddu, now housed in the National Museum and Galleries of Wales in Cardiff.
Excavation reports on the earliest monuments at Bryn Celli Ddu including the causewayed enclosure of Bryn Celli Wen.
Topics
Sites within 20km of Bryn Celli Ddu
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Bryn Celli Ddu Gorsedd
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Tyddyn Bach Standing Stone
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Plas Newydd Burial Chamber
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Bryn-yr-Hen-Bobl
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Maen Morddwyd
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Caer Idris
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Dinas (Y Felinheli)
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Ty Mawr
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Brynsiencyn
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Trefwri Standing Stone (East)
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Garth Standing Stone
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Trefwri Standing Stone (West)
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Pont Sarn-las
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Perthi Duon
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Caer Leb
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Bodowyr
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Hirdrefaig
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Castell Bryn-Gwyn
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Bryn Gwyn
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Pen-y-Gelli
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Plas Cadnant
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Llangaffo
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Llangristiolus
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Ty’n-llywyn Pentir
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Dinas Dinorwig
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Pen y Maen
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Camp Hill (Bangor)
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Cilgwythwch
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Ty’n Pwll
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Henblas
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Llanddyfnan
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Hendrefor
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The Three Leaps
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Caer Carreg-y-fran
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Carnedd Howell
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Llandegai Cursus
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Pant Ifan
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Caer Pencraig (Ty’n y Caeau)
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Hafodlas Cairn Circle
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Carnedd Moel y Ci
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Parciau Gleison
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Parc Gelli
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Cremlyn (North and South)
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Pen-y-Bwlch
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Malltraeth
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Graiglas Barrow
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Graiglas
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Sling
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Pen Dinas camp
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Rhiw Goch Stone
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Din Dryfol
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Bwlch Farm
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Glyn
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Dinas Ty-Du
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Pant-y-Saer
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Fortified hut settlement above Rachub
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Pen-y-Gaer (Bethesda)
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Benllech
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Cairn cemetry, W. shoulder of Moel Faban
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Ffridd Fedw
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Moel Faban, Carneddau
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Parc Bach
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Moel Faban Arrow Stone
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Coed y Brain
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Moel Faban Settlement
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Bwlch ym Mhwll-le (Llefn)
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Yr Aelgerth
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Moel Eilio
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Twll Pant-hiriol
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Bwrdd Arthur (Llanddona)
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Cader Ellyll
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Cwm Ffrydlas, Carneddau
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Maenaddwyn
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Llech Golman
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Coety Bach
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Moel Wnion
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Dinas (Llaneugrad)
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Cairn N of Moel Wnion
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Cras
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Cairn above Ffridd Ddu
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Twyn y Parc
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Cwm Gafr
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Mynydd Du Settlement, Carnedd Dafydd
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Craig Cwmbychan
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Carreg Leidr
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Craig yr Allor
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Cwm Caseg, Carneddau
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Glynllifon
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Traeth Fawr
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Drosgl (Northern slopes)
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Dinas Dinlle
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Plas Bodafon
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Drosgl Cairns
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Maes y Gaer
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Lain Wen Farm Inscribed Stone
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Mynydd Mawr
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Lligwy
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Din Lligwy
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Coed Aber round house
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Bodfan Menhir
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Meuryn Isaf
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Ty Newydd
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Anafon Valley cairns
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Gelli Ffrydiau
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Maen du’r Arddu
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Trefor
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Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau
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Hafod Gelyn (north)
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Cairn SW of Carnedd Dafydd
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Drws-y-Coed
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Foel Dduarth (west)
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Maen Chwyf
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Carnedd Dafydd
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Carnedd y Saeson
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Penbryn Mawr
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Maen Llwyd (Plas Newydd)
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Foel Dduarth
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Llys Einion
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Porth Trecastell
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Barclodiad-y-Gawres
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Llyn Ogwen
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Mynydd Bach (Aberffraw)
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Trum y Ddysgl
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Foel Dduarth Arrow Stone
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Cairn, NNW of Foel Ganol
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Y Garn, Nantlle Ridge
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Garnedd Uchaf
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Treiorwerth
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Cairn NNE of Foel Ganol
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Afon Anafon Arrow Stone
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Carnedd Llewelyn
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Garreg Fawr
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Yr Orsedd standing stone
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Arrow Stone I near Ffridd Newydd
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Foel Grach
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Yr Orsedd cup marked stone
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Arrow Stone II near Ffridd Newydd
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Yr Wyddfa
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Garreg Fawr
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Castell y Gwynt, Y Glyderau
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Arrow Stone SW of Cammarnaint
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Adam and Eve
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Tristan’s Cairn
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Craig-y-Dinas
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Presaddfed
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Dinas (Llanfairfechan)
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Dyffryn Mymbyr
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Carnedd y Ddelw
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Craig Cwm-Silyn
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