Mynydd Llangynidr, Brecknockshire - Royal Commission on the ...

<strong>Mynydd</strong> <strong>Llangynidr</strong> Upland Survey
UIP081 Report Version: Final
Produced for RCAHMW
Other uplands research themes
Agri-Industrial settlement patterns in contexts where farming and industrial activity coalesce
6.20 Similarities in construction of some hearths and ovens inside domestic shepherds’ huts
were shared with some of the lime kilns. Some limekilns were also very close to domestic
settlement activity. This may suggest that small agricultural communities were involved in the
lime producing industry further up the slopes and that they may have produced some lime for use
within their own community.
The relationship of sites to woodland, where it exists and to identified deposits of peat and
areas of peat extraction or drainage
6.21 The only areas of woodland in the survey area were on the boundaries of the area.
6.22 The area of woodland was not associated with peat extraction in the area. Peat is
widespread on the top of the survey area, but no examples of peat cutting were found during the
survey.
Transport networks of all periods in relation to the upland areas and the inter-regional
implications of these, in particular extensive remains of upland trackways and early systems of
roads and tramways with their associated infrastructure
6.23 Most of the tracks in the survey area are difficult to date and were often still in use until
recently to access quarries or by modern walkers. However, due to the wear on some of the
tracks and the existence of a number of possible prehistoric cairns along the route, it is likely that
some of the tracks have been used over a long period of time and may date back as far as the
prehistoric period. Some of the quarry tracks could date to the medieval or post-medieval period,
but have been updated and maintained for more recent use.
6.24 Some tracks were probably established for accessing shooting butts, as these are a
common feature particularly on the eastern side of the area where there is copious outcropping
rock and easy access to the relatively flat areas. These might account for some of the more
ephemeral track.
6.25 The tracks and paths that run along the top of both ridges are likely to have been in use
since antiquity. Prehistoric cairns and mounds are located on the ridges and peaks, but the paths
are also denoted by marker cairns (which are probably of various dates). No boundary stones
marking track were located during the survey, with the abundance of loose limestone scree
probably making small cairns an easier way to mark the tracks.
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(Draft Final).doc
Copyright ArchaeoPhysica Ltd. 10/02/2009