We have now completed our survey of Mynydd Mallaen and the uplands northwards towards the Carmarthenshire-Ceredigion border above Ffarmers. It’s been an exceptionally successful few weeks which have produced some remarkable results.
Our second week on Mynydd Mallaen mostly produced new evidence for settlement and agriculture on the high mountain pastures, probably of medieval date. Some very interesting new sites were recorded along the upper Gwenlas and Rhosan valleys, such as house platforms, long huts and cultivation ridges.
The star finds of this past week all came from the area north of Ffarmers, however. These included a cairn cemetery, a stone circle and a quite remarkable hilltop hut settlement, which we think is likely to be of Iron Age or possibly Bronze Age date, where the platforms of 14 round huts were found.
The past few weeks have proven particularly successful because the weather has been so good and we have been able to cover the ground very quickly. We have also learned that Cwmrhaedr is a very useful access point to some of the best hill-walking country in south west Wales!
We look forward to returning before the summer to give a public talk on our work and findings. We will send details soon.
Jenny Hall & Paul Sambrook
Trysor
Thanks to Andy & Karen at Cwmcroiddur for providing us with the perfect base for our work. Cilycwm is a great place to visit!
We often work on the hills until sunset. The low evening sun will pick out slight earthwork features that might otherwise be missed. Here is a long hut in Cwm Rhosan, one of several previously unknown house sites along the top of the valley. The stone foundations of the building can be seen on the platform. It would have had timber and mud walls, with a thatched roof – all of which have long ago decayed and disappeared. Such sites are thought to be of medieval or early post-medieval date i.e. before the 18th century, but exact dates are rarely known without excavation, which can provide radiocarbon dates.
