|
|
|
||
|
|
Chambered
Long Cairn On the day we returned to visit Barclodiad y Gawres and get a key on the way there we decided to visit the chambered long cairn called Din Dryfol Take the A5 towards
Holyhead and just after the turning to Bodfford take the next left. (You
will need a map for this chamber as the lanes are confusing – go to www.multimap.com
and type in the grid reference above, select a suitable scale and print
it) However if you drive down to the first T junction, turn right go on to
the next T junction, turn right again, take the next left and continue
round a couple of sharp bends and park by a farm lane on the left which is
signed to the monument.
View towards Din Dryfol There is room for a
couple of cars on the verge here. Follow the signs and go through a few
gates on the track past the farm. When you see an open gateway leading to
a rocky crag head diagonally across the field towards a sign which
explains about the site. The footpath seems in the process of being
re-routed at present so it might be different in the future.
Views of Din Dryfol Burial Chamber The remains of the chamber are on the NE face of the rocks and consist of several large stones, one stands at about 10 feet (3 metres) high. The capstone has collapsed and many stones are missing but it is in a pleasant setting and worth visiting. The sun hadn’t come up over the rocks when we were there and it was still frosty so the photos are dark. Excavations in 1970 revealed that there were several structural phases in this site. As at Trefignath (see below) further north, there were three chambers here.As
you approach the site you first see a huge portal stone, beyond which lie
the remains of the last chamber which still has three uprights in position
together with the fallen side stone of the third chamber. The slipped
capstone is 10 feet (3 metres) long and 5 feet (1.5 metres) wide. It is
thought that all three chambers were joined together over a period of time
and incorporated into one long cairn which extended the length of the
ridge.
Burial Chamber
|
||
|
Burial
Chamber From the A5 turn left
to Trearddur on the B4545. For a little detour at the village of Glan
Traeth turn right, then next right, go to the end to find a standing stone
here at SH 268 788. return to the B4545 and after the car park on the left
take the right turn . After ½ mile turn left then just after passing some
trees Trefignath Burial Chamber will be found on the right. Before
reaching this site you will pass an attractive standing stone on the left
which seems to be on a low mound and is surrounded by partially buried
stones.
Views of the standing stone south of Trefignath |
|||
|
Trefignath is an
interesting site to visit. Here there are the remains of three separate
burial chambers that, over time, were combined into one long cairn.
The
long cairn at Trefignath The first tomb in
the west was a simple box chamber covered with a round cairn with the
entrance in the NW.
The first phase chamber The central section is
the second phase of construction which has now collapsed and the massive
capstone is now broken. The entrance is marked by two smaller stones.
These two constructions were then covered with a wedge shaped mound of
stones which were retained by dry stone walling, some of which is still
visible as is the entrance and forecourt in the NE.
The capstone from the second phase The third phase at the NE end of the mound has been partially restored and survives in it’s original form. It has a recessed forecourt with two large portal stones to the NE.
The third chamber and portal stones
View of the third chamber and the aluminium plant in the background The combined structure was then covered in a long mound of stones. Pottery and human bones were found when the tomb was first excavated in the 18th century and more recent excavations uncovered flint and stone tools, possibly manufactured at the site, dating from the Neolithic period.
Inside the third chamber Half a mile further on there is a standing stone on the left at SH 254 810.
|
|||
|
14.01.01 |
|
