Barclodiad y Gawres
Encyclopedia
Barclodiad y Gawres is a Neolithic
burial chamber on the coast of the island of Anglesey
in North Wales
. It is an example of a cruciform passage grave
, a notable feature being its decorated stones. Similar graves and marks exist across the Irish Sea in the Boyne Valley
.
Full excavations were performed in 1952–1953, after which the chamber was re-roofed with concrete and covered with turf to resemble the original structure. During the excavations two cremated young male burials were found within the south-western side-chamber. The central area of the main chamber contained the remains of a fire on which had been poured a stew including wrasse, eel, frog, toad, grass-snake, mouse, shrew and hare, then covered with limpet shells and pebbles.
During the excavations five stones with carvings—spirals, zig-zags, lozenges and chevrons—were discovered. A sixth stone with carvings was discovered in 2001.
More or less equidistant from Aberffraw
and Rhosneigr
, it is on the north side of Porth Trecastell/Cable Bay, on the Anglesey Coastal Path
, and a short walk from the A4080. It is cared for by the Welsh heritage organisation Cadw
. From April to October at weekends and bank holidays it is possible to enter the chamber, if accompanied by a keyholder (from the Wayside shop in Llanfaelog).
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
burial chamber on the coast of the island of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. It is an example of a cruciform passage grave
Cruciform passage grave
Cruciform passage graves describe a complex example of prehistoric passage grave found in Ireland, west Wales and Orkney and built during the later Neolithic, from around 3500 BC and later....
, a notable feature being its decorated stones. Similar graves and marks exist across the Irish Sea in the Boyne Valley
Brú na Bóinne
is a World Heritage Site in County Meath, Ireland and is the largest and one of the most important prehistoric megalithic sites in Europe.-The site:...
.
Full excavations were performed in 1952–1953, after which the chamber was re-roofed with concrete and covered with turf to resemble the original structure. During the excavations two cremated young male burials were found within the south-western side-chamber. The central area of the main chamber contained the remains of a fire on which had been poured a stew including wrasse, eel, frog, toad, grass-snake, mouse, shrew and hare, then covered with limpet shells and pebbles.
During the excavations five stones with carvings—spirals, zig-zags, lozenges and chevrons—were discovered. A sixth stone with carvings was discovered in 2001.
More or less equidistant from Aberffraw
Aberffraw
Aberffraw is a small village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey , in Wales, by the west bank of the River Ffraw, at . The UK postcode begins LL63. Access by road is by way of the A4080 and the nearest rail station is Bodorgan. In the early Middle Ages Aberffraw was the...
and Rhosneigr
Rhosneigr
Rhosneigr is a village in the south-west of Anglesey, North Wales. It is situated on the A4080 road some 10km south-east of Holyhead, and is on the Anglesey Coastal Path. From the clock at the centre of the village can be seen RAF Valley and Holyhead Mountain...
, it is on the north side of Porth Trecastell/Cable Bay, on the Anglesey Coastal Path
Anglesey Coastal Path
The Anglesey Coastal Path is a long-distance footpath around the island of Anglesey in North Wales....
, and a short walk from the A4080. It is cared for by the Welsh heritage organisation Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
. From April to October at weekends and bank holidays it is possible to enter the chamber, if accompanied by a keyholder (from the Wayside shop in Llanfaelog).