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

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Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004There were no significant new sites or features located on the summit of Disgwylfa Fawr nor along itsslopes other than those sites already recorded.Area 4. DinasThis area along with ‗Area 5’ proved to be one of the most fruitful areas in terms of interesting andsignificant archaeological sites. Starting with the top of Dinas, no new features other than thos alreadyrecorded were discovered. As to the remains of Dinas fort, the northern and southern ramparts consist offairly substantial bank and ditches, however the east and west ends are not as well defined on the ground asthey appear on aerial photos. The defined rampart along the west side of the fort appears to be a naturalwalk through natural geology. This is the same with the east side. No evidence of the cairns reported in1938 were found to exist, these likely having been destroyed or else are now hidden from view.From the top of Dinas however, looking down at the base of the western slope there is a good view of a welldefined early large enclosed settlement with small hut oval hut enclosures within its bounds (NPRN:284162). The remains of a post-medieval sheepfold helps to pin-point this site. This site has been notedbefore but never before investigated fully in the field. Once down from Dinas and within the settlementsbounds it is plain to see that this was once a fairly substantial settlement with two possibly three small ovalhut enclosures encircled by enclosure banks. Part of the outer bank has been incorporated into a possiblenatural cut ditch at the far east side, approx. 3m in depth in places. This ditch may once have been a smallwatercourse that has since been dug-out further. This is uncertain, but at first meeting it appears to bedefensive, but this is not the case. A few other small oval enclosures associated with this settlement werenoted in the area immediately to the south. Access to this however was hindered by water logging of thearea because of its close proximity to the ‗Nant Glandwr‘ watercourse.Just north of this settlement the field visit recorded the existence of two semi-circular curvilinear banks atthe southern base of Disgwylfa fach (NPRN: 282149 / 282,837). Both of these features are similar in formto each other and each, if their circumference continued to form a circle, have a diameter of approx. 10m -12m. If this were indeed the case then it may be likely that these two features are in fact 2 bronze age ringcairns. Both these features warrant further archaeological evaluation.Further west the field survey discovered a stone row (NPRN: 282230) in the immediate area alongside anaready known quartz stone (NPRN: 282137). This stone row appears to consist of a series of 7 possibly 8stones barely protruding through the ground surface. They are orientated in a NW-SE direction and stretchover a distance of approx. 10m. The known quartz stone is approx. 0.50m square and may be standing, butwithout excavation this is uncertain. A further known standing stone (NPRN: 303695) is also recorded inthis area, approx. 70m to the north. From the stone row, approx. 30m east, a large square slab shaped stonewas also recorded that gives the impression of a possible former Neolithic cap stone for a burial chamber.No uprights are visible however but may be present beneath the ‗cap stone‘ (NPRN: 282848).Within this area three post medieval farmsteads are sited, ‗Glandwr Uchaf‘, ‗Castell Coch‘ and ‗Dinas‘.Two of these farmsteads are still in use as dwellings, the other in ruin. With regards Dinas however, a newmodern bungalow has been built on the former foundations of Dinas House. But the standing remains of aformer out-house or byre still remain, being used presently as a sheepfold. The unroofed standing remainsof this building are approx. 2m high. Within the interior of this building at the far north-east corner is asmall niche that probably used to be used as a shelf. The entrance to this building faces west (NPRN:282218).The other farmstead ‗Catell Coch‘ was not visited as it was outside of the survey area, but a record has beenmade of its documentary and cartographic history. It is known however that this dwelling is presentlyunroofed and in a very ruinous condition (pers comm.).Area 5. Esgair GorlanWith regards prehistory, the most significant site recorded during the field visit in this area was the remainsof a possible small Iron Age defended enclosure on top of the hill just south of Esgair Gorlan. The evidencefor this is slim however, existing only in the form of a very low curvilinear bank facing north-east (NPRN:71CAP Report No: 355
Uplands Initiative – Nant y Moch & Pumlimon Fawr / <strong>Plynlimon</strong> 2004282215). The hill-fort of Dinas is clearly visible from the top of this hill. A Bronze Age burial cairn wasalso located at the summit of this hill (NPRN: 282778).Further down the north facing slope from here a further curvilinear bank qwas discovered, barely traceablewithin the tall grasses (NPRN: 282214). On the summit of Esgair Nant y Moch, the hill on the east side ofEsgair Gorlan, a further bronze age cairn was located. This cairn was approx. 4m x 3m oval with evedenceof a cist.With regards the known standing stones known as ‗Bwlch ar Llo‘ or the ‗Cow and Calf‘ these wererecorded photographically and examined for any evidence of markings, but none were found (NPRN:301687). One further recumbent stone (NPRN: 282,882) was recorded to the east at the side of the road. Itis apparent from communication with one of the locals that many standing stones were pulled down a fewdecades ago to discourage visitors to the area. This recumbent stone may well be the remains of one ofthese ‗removing‘ episodes.Immediately to the south of the ‗Cow and Calf‘ stones the survey discovered the remains of a leat runningeast to west toward Llyn Rhosgoch reservoir. This leat is recorded on the OS 1 st edition map. Further southstill was recorded the ruins of the post medieval deserted rural farmstead of ‗Geifaes‘ (NPRN: 284085). Theonly remains of this farmstead now are the foundation remains of the house and out-building.Lastly of interest, in the area just above ‗Bog Pond‘ reservoir, the field visit recorded the existence of whatappeared to be a grave, a rectangular patch of ground approx. 2m in length x 1.5 wide and slightly raised(NPRN: 282213). This feature may need further investigation in order to identify its character and age.Area 6. PonterwydThe field visit of this area essentially recorded extensive post medieval remnants of the former lead miningindustry that covered the upper parts of Mynydd Ponterwyd hill from the late 18 th century onwards.Features recorded include vertical shafts and accompanying spoil heaps in the area of the former CraignantBach Lead Mine along with an engine house and a small leat system. The main core of Craignant BachLead Mine however, also known as ‗Bog Mine‘, is located within the modern forestry. Toward the base ofMynydd Ponterwydd however the field survey recorded the existence of Craignant Bach lead mines largepumping wheel pit (NPRN: 282961). The size of this wheel appears to have been about 12m in diameter.Further down the slope from the wheel pit the field visit discovered the top dressed stones that once coveredpart of the pumping wheels axle (NPRN: 282199).Further east from Craignant Bach the field survey recorded the complex system of leats that cover the eastside of Ponterwyd hill. This system is recorded on the OS edition maps. In the same area a series ofenclosures and pits (NPRN: 282185) were noted. The RCAHMW aerial photography study notedcultivation ridges in this area, however in the field these are very hard to discern.With regards prehistory, the field survey confirmed the existence of two standing stones toward the west ofthis area (NPRN: 284077). These are both very small, each approx. 0.50m high. Whether these stones areBronze Age in date is speculative however. Immediately north-west of these stones is a small ponded areawith a circular bank within its limits (NPRN: 282792). At first sight this gives the impression of a possibleformer ring cairn, but this is uncertain. Both these sites need further investigation in the form of excavation.Area 7. East bank of Afon RheidolThis area is that on the east bank of the Rheidol that stretches all the way from Nant y Moch Reservoir toPonterwyd village. Perhaps the most significant sites discovered in this area are a series of three lowmounds, each between 10m-12m in diameter (NPRN: 282830 / 282829 / 282828). These features are onlyeasily visible when viewed from above from the upper eastern slopes. At ground level the <strong>central</strong> mound isjust visible. Because of the archaeological nature of this area, known to be a prehistoric ritual landscape, itseems likely that these mounds are very likely bronze age burial mounds.71CAP Report No: 355
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Plynlimon (central) - Royal Commission on the Ancient and ...

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