Ok, as promised, here is some more of the archaeology we got to see in Anglesey on our weekend away! As last week we focused on the historic period, this week I think it only fair we look at some of the prehistoric archaeology of the island.
Our main reason for visiting Anglesey was to catch the open day of a project which is exploring the monument and landscape of Bryn Celli Ddu. I blogged about the site before we visited and you can read it here: Bryn Celli Ddu.
We hadn’t been before and we were not disappointed – its a fantastic site, one of the best chambered tombs either Ian or I have seen. I’ve made a gallery of images that can be downloaded and used in lessons about the Neolithic in the resources here: Bryn Celli Ddu gallery
The open day was organised by Dr Ffion Reynolds of CADW and attracted over 600 visitors! There were a range of activities to take part in as well as groups to talk to, including Guerilla Archaeology and members of the Anglesey Druid Order. Our good friend Adam Stanford of Aerial Cam was also there – and many images of the day will be appearing on a number of platforms detailing the day.
Not content with visiting Bryn Celli Ddu, we also popped along to see Caer Leb, just outside the village of Brynsiencyn. Caer Lêb is a settlement which has a long history – it was occupied from the late Iron Age, around 200 BC, to at least 200 years into the Roman period.
Walking through the entrance between the banks
Caer Lêb is an example of a defended settlement, characterised by the presence of two banks with a ditch between them. Inside the banks, there is evidence of at least 2 roundhouses with structures such as hearths. This would suggest that at least 40 people would have lived here as a typical Iron Age roundhouse can accommodate 20 people. The settlement was seemingly built in a marshy area, and to this day the ditch retains its boggy character. You can see this in the images below.
The village of Brynsiencyn is close to more prehistoric sites including Castell Bryn Gwyn, several standing stones and a Bronze Age burial mound. Sadly, we didn’t have time to squeeze them all in, the children were getting impatient for non-archaeological things by now! We are most certainly heading back to see more that the island has to offer, both in archaeology and hospitality!