Plynlimon (central) - Royal Commission on the Ancient and ...

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Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004Scattered scraps of charcoal (oak, birch and hazel) were found in the <strong>central</strong> area, but the only otherfeatures recovered were stake-holes. Twenty-eight of these were identified (A to Z, a to e, omittingI, O, X). They were about U-3 in. in diameter, usually about 2 in., arid penetrated the subsoil to adepth of 3—4 in., G and K being about 6 in. deep. They were mostly filled with the greyish-brownclay, slightly discoloured, and were difficult to detect, while on the other hand over-enthusiasticinvestigation of a mouse burrow could produce a very plausible stake-hole. Holes W, Y and Z are alittle doubtful, but are probably genuine as mouse holes were relatively scarce in that area. All theother twenty-three holes -were regarded as certain, but it is very probable that others were notdetected or, having been utilised by mice, were regarded as entirely their work. Only one (R)produced enough charcoal to identify; it was of hazel. Two of the stakes marked the position of the<strong>central</strong> pot. As for the rest, the search for regularities in groups of dots is notoriously likely to giveresults, which are merely subjective, but it does seem permissible to accept it as significant thatfourteen of the holes lie between 37 in. and 54 in. from the centre of the pot. (A-G, K, M, N, S-V.)Whether to accept the remainder as aiming at two rings, with H, J, P, R, W between 60 in. and 74in. and Y-E between 92 in. and 115 in., must be a matter of choice.Again, it is guesswork whether the stakes were left standing when the structure was finished.Almost all could have been so, and the way in which P, in particular, lay immediately beneath agap in the stones above suggests that it did remain. In fact, only five of the holes were beneathstones. Of these, Z is a probable but doubtful \hole; the slab over V was quite loose; and F, G and Kwere just under the edges of the slabs. All these could be accounted for on the assumption that theslabs were leaned against the stakes and fell across the holes after the wood rotted.THE ASSOCIATION AND CHARACTER OF THE RING-CAIRNThe individual features of the Aber Camddwr ring-cairn can be paralleled from many sites, but areusually incorporated in barrows and are very much more carefully set out. The attention ofarchaeologists has tended to concentrate on impressive mounds, so that ring-cairns have generallyescaped not only excavation, but even recognition as a distinct class of structure. In fact they arequite common, at least in Wales, though examples with entrances are unusual. The only other ringcairnexcavated in Wales before 1962 seems to be 'Circle 278' on Penmaenmawr, but this was morecarefully built and had no entrances or internal structures.In the absence of any close parallel, and pending the excavation of other ring-1 cairns, the mostuseful comparison would seem to be with the composite barrows ' of the Early and Middle BronzeAge discussed by Sir Cyril Fox. Taken individually, all the elements found at Aber Camddwr arerepresented there. But | apart from the fact that the excavated Glamorgan sites are all barrows, thefeatures | found within them are generally carefully set out and constructed, as elsewhere, | whereasthe Aber Camddwr workmanship is consistently poor. The stake-circles 3 under the Glamorganmounds are interpreted as representing huts, either actual s or symbolic. Considering the AberCamddwr ring from this aspect, it becomes ' evident that there also all the characteristics of a hutare present: the stone bank with its entrance corresponds to the main wall, and the stake-holes tothe rings of posts supporting the roof. To judge from the irregularity of the setting out, though, itseems likely that to the builders these features were merely ritual elements, of which the originalsignificance had been forgotten. It is, of course, impossible to say with certainty that the stakes didnot support a roof, though the resulting structure would have been a very ramshackle affair.Equally, it is possible that the builders intended to 'complete' the structure by building a moundover it; but there is no | evidence whatever to justify such an assumption.The function of the structure was almost certainly 'ritual'. The <strong>central</strong> burial of an urn containingearth only may be compared with the <strong>central</strong> pits at Six Wells 267' and 2 71' and must surely beaccepted as the most important deposit on the site. The burnt remains of the child must then beregarded as sacrificial. Indications of the use of children probably as dedicatory sacrifices havebeen found at other Bronze Age sites, such as the Druids Circle, Sutton 268', and Pond Cairn.This ring-cairn, then, can be regarded as a sacred structure incorporating, probably as ritual featuresof forgotten significance, the elements of a round house with a stone wall and at least one ring ofroof supports. Its location suggests two questions. Was its site deliberately chosen because of thecommanding view? And was the concentration of burials lower down the Rheidol a result of thesanctity conferred by the erection of this ring? The evidence from this site alone provides no71CAP Report No: 355
Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004answer, as coincidence could account for the observed facts; but the possibilities deserveconsideration when further sites of this type are investigated ‖. (HOGG 1977 p 24-32)Further completed excavation of these cairns was undertaken in 1984 when the reservoir water levels weretemporarily low. With regards the Aber Camddwr kerb cairn (NPRN: 104101), complete denudation of thepeat cover revealed an ‗annexe‘ measuring 2m x 2.1m on the SW, complete with kerb and ‗paved‘ area.Immediately to the W of the cairn was a group of five upright stones (BRIGGS 1984) (see Fig 7).FIGURE 7. Aber Camddwr II Kerb cairn.Following excavation in 1984.The completed excavation of this cairn was undertaken in 1986 folowing partial draining of the Nant yMoch reservoir. This seasons work exposed a large number of stake-holes surrounding the main cairn, oneof them containg a small Bronze Age sherd. Also discovered were a series of charcoal filled pits(MURPHY 1986).Other significant bronze age burial cairns are located in the area north and south of Hirnant on the east bankof the Afon Rheidol (Area 7) and on the west facing slopes of the Pumlimon Fawr mountain range. Thisimmediate area appears to have once been an important ritual landscape. Many of these cairns or carneddauwere first noted in 1917 by W.J. Hemp and later investigated by J. Evans in 1952 and since described insubsequent investigations and articles. In total there are 22 possible cairns in this area, however theexistence of only 8 of this total number has since been confirmed as burial cairns. Three of these areScheduled Ancient Monuments (NPRN‘s: 284067 / 105582 / 303686). Two of these SAM sites (NPRN105582 / 303686) are described as cairn circles, however are likely former round barrows that have beendug out in the 19 th century and only the upright kerb stones having been left. The Hirnant cairn circle(NPRN: 105582) is described thus;―A circle of small stones 18f" in diameter. 16 remain, the highest about 2'. The stones are settangentially with spaces of about 1ft between the edges; the only gaps are on the east and SE. Thereis a slight mound now rising to about 1' in the centre. A good example of these small circles.Kerb of robbed cairn standing on the edge of a slope above Rheidol valley. When seen byW.J.Hemp, early this century, a certain amount of cairn mass was to be seen. This was reducedpractically to ground level by 1932 (A R Sansbury), and its condition was little different in 1953(W E Griffiths). The kerb comprises 16 stones, most of which are 9-14 inches high, encompassinga grass-covered mound of some 20 feet in diameter. The <strong>central</strong> area has clearly been disturbed onthe north and west. (Listed by Lynch as a kerb cairn, and mentioned by Burl as a possible stonecircle). Hirnant: stone circle of uncertain status, 5.9m diameter, internal oairn. A cairn kerb71CAP Report No: 355
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APPENDIX 1: SITE ILLUSTRATIONSUplan
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