Bryn Celli Ddu by JRL
Bryn Celli Ddu
Bryn Celli Ddu, ‘the mound in the dark grove’, is probably the best known and most evocative prehistoric site on Anglesey.
Bryn Celli Ddu is an ancient monument dating back almost 5,000 years to the Neolithic the time of the first farmers. Bryn Celli Ddu began as a henge or bank and ditch enclosing a circle of 14 upright stones. Here ceremonies might be performed with the scattered community gathering to witness these rituals. Shortly afterwards the henge was deliberately overbuilt by a large burial mound; a communal grave in which members of the local population would have been laid to rest. The burial mound in turn, became a focus for ritual activity outside the chamber entrance.
Today Bryn Celli Ddu provides us with fascinating evidence of two long vanished ways of life on this part of Anglesey nearly five millennia ago.
The Bryn Celli Ddu Henge Monument
A round 3000 B.C. during the Neolithic period, a small henge was built at Bryn Celli Ddu. A circular area surrounded by a bank and ditch, that seems to have been used for religious purposes.
Within the henge 14 upright stones were erected and probably an entrance causeway where the burial chamber passage is now.
Excavations here in 1928 discovered a pit at the centre in which a fire had been lit, a human ear-bone had been placed in this and a slab laid over the top. This was perhaps some form of re-dedication before building the tomb.
The decorated stone, a replica of which has been erected here, was found adjacent to the pit, its wavy lines and spirals are similar to motifs found in Brittany Henge monuments are rare in Wales, but more common in England (eg Stonehenge). This fact, together with the decorated stone, Suggests that the local community had long distance contacts.
The Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber
Not long after the henge had been built its stones were deliberately damaged and a large burial mound was erected over it. Representing a rival religion this communal “Passage Grave”, would have served the Neolithic farming Burial community hereabouts. The grave entrance at Bryn Celli Ddu was flanked by large portal stones, and a stone-lined passageway led to the inner chamber of upright stone slabs which supported two giant capstones. Unusually, a single rounded pillar is found inside.
The Bryn Celli Ddu burial mound was edged by kerbstones set within the ditch of the earlier henge. The forecourt area around the entrance seems to have provided a focus for ritual.
Excavated in 1928, an area of quartz pebbles and hearths was found here, and an ox burial outside this within a three-sided shelter. Eventually the outer passage was finally sealed by stones, earth and bones. The present mound was reconstructed after excavation, but is considerably smaller in extent than the original.
Created: 30 November 2018 Edited: 29 November 2023
Bryn Celli Ddu
Bryn Celli Ddu LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around Bryn Celli Ddu
There are some historic monuments around including:
Bryn Eryr Rectangular Earthwork Caer Carreg y Fran Caerlan Tibot Defended EnclosureBryn-Celli-Ddu Standing StoneBerw Colliery Hendrefor Burial Chambers Dinas Cadnant HillfortCapel Eithin (site of) and CemeteryHut Group Near Tan-y-Coed Pont Rhythallt Bryngwyn Standing Stones Castell Bryn-GwynHirdre-Faig Standing StoneSettlement NW of Waen Rhythallt Caernarfon Town WallCaernarfon CastlePlas Newydd Burial ChambersPont Sarn-Las Hut Group Coed Nant-y-garth, standing stone to N of Tre-Garnedd Moated SiteHut Circle South of Rhyd y Galen, Pont-Rug North Weir and Smoke Tower, Ynys Gorad GochCae Metta Hut GroupCefn Mawr Hut GroupPlas BerwCaer Idris Hillfort Fodol Ganol Enclosed Hut GroupBryn-Glas Roman Signal Station Trefwri Standing Stone Tyddyn-Bach Standing Stone Bryn-Celli-Ddu Burial ChamberHendrefor Earthwork Glascoed Round CairnBryn-yr-Hen-Bobl Burial ChamberCaer LebDinas CampBodowyr Burial ChamberPerthi-Duon Burial Chamber Old Parish Church & ChurchyardGlascoed Ancient VillageDinas Dinorwic CampOld Parish Church, LlanidanBurial Chamber 180m NE of Pen-y-Berth Gorad Ddu Fish WeirTy-Wyn Standing Stone Pen-y-Gaer CampCoed Mor Fish WeirRound Barrow East of Brynsiencyn .
