It is 7.0 clock, everyone has departed the house for their journeys. Andrew to solve computer programmes, Lillie to College and my daughter to Manchester airport to catch a plane for a long weekend in Switzerland. Visiting her two aunts and I shall worry about her arriving safely till a message pops up on F/B. So I will concentrate on Clegyr Boai. First of all the sensible archaeological interpretation of it, written by me 2005 on TMA.
"This site is an important prehistoric settlement, in the sense that it is always mentioned in books on prehistory. It features in the landscape as a small twin-peaked saddled rocky outcrop, set about a mile back from the sea.
Two periods are archaeologically defined, the later iron age settlement is a rectangular enclosure, measuring 100m x 25 metres. Two, possible third, neolithic houses have been found placed centrally within the ramparts. The area around the settlement site shows evidence of Mesolithic activity, and there is probably continuous occupancy of this area of 4000 years. One of the huts had been burnt which maybe implies ritual burning on abandonment.
Hav'nt explored its interior, due to exhaustion from long walks!, but will do so this year. Also worth noting that the burial tombs of Carn Llidi and Coetan Arthur may belong to these people.
information taken from Geo.Nash and Geo.Children- Neolithic Sites.....Pembs, Cards, Carms."
Rhiannon has written this. Rhiannon was like Sue in Suffolk who had also once been a librarian, Rhiannon also held the 'golden key' to all those books, old and new, locked up elsewhere and a good friend when I needed information.
Can you believe these folklore stories captured down through the ages? It must be remembered that probably 99% of the population did not read through the centuries, the monks recorded the stories and maybe because their writings are still to be found, we can give the stories some
credence.
So here are some photos, two of Clegyr Boai, the rest are of the cromlechs on St. David's Head, just three but there is something rather sad about these stone monuments hidden amongst the jumble of rocks.
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| Clegyr Boia. Framed by gorse, the saddle between the two peaks. |
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| Another time photographed. |
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| One of the two Carn Llidi cromlechs. See how the capstone rested on the ledge? |
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| The two cromlechs from a distance, the concrete in front must have been from World War 2. I always find it amazing that it was an archeologist, Grimes I think, that worked out where to site the airfields round this part of Pembrokeshire. |
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| This is the second cromlech, pictured above. See how it points out to sea? |
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| Coetan Arthur on St.David's Head. Again pointing but this time to Carn Lidl. |
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| Coetan Arthur again, set amongst the jumble of rocks it is difficult to find. |
When I wonder if Arthur actually existed I think of how you can compare the life of Jesus as written down by monks and mystics with the life of Julius Caesar as written down by Romans at the time. Both were 2000 years ago, but the Roman versions seem like yesterday. So contemporary.
ReplyDeleteWell I am listening to Mary Beard at the moment from her book of the twelve Caesars, The fact is both Jesus and Julius Caesar were depicted in art history as well as written. Especially Julius in statuary. Their depiction in stories and paintings over the last 2000 years has brought them through history. Did you know by the way Tom that Caesar was the surname of Julius and only got used as a figurehead for the rest of the Caesars afterwards.
ReplyDeleteArthur, is maybe a mythological figure, but there are several different Arthurs in the record. When you think of the monk's writing, their education must have been limited to the books they read.
There again, the intelligent Romans wrote a lot more books on many subjects, could be why we got conquered at the time!
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I have a number of books by Sabine Baring-Gould on my bookshelves. He travelled and wrote so much I don't know how he ever found time to preach or help his parishioners! I don't know Pembrokeshire archaeological sites very well so found this an interesting read. LOVED the link to SBG's article - I am working my way through the entire site now and have found an amazing article about Montgomeryshire Rood Screens!! A lot more readable than the article on Brecon Prehistory (with much nattering about the shape of prehistoric skulls ... ) They could be speaking a different language.
ReplyDeleteWell they only work one day a week Jennie, so perhaps the rest of the time can be devoted to writing and travelling. Old books are always interesting, I have been contemplating Hugh Williams on Mercia's book, surely he must stray into your territory?
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