LLANDEGAI HENGE MONUMENTS AND CURSUS;LLANDYGAI

Site Details

NPRN
93620
Map Reference
SH57SE
Grid Reference
SH59387104
Unitary (Local) Authority
Gwynedd
Old County
Caernarfonshire
Community
Llandygai
Type of Site
HENGE;CURSUS
Broad Class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Period
Multiperiod

Site Description

A unique array of archaeological features, first recognised as cropmarks, were excavated in advance of the construction of an industrial estate in 1966-7. The site lies on generally level ground between the rivers Cegin & Ogwen to the west of Llandegai village. Its features included several Neolithic ritual or ceremonial monuments, two henges - circular enclosures - and a cursus - a linear enclosure - apparently alligned on Llandegai church. There were also several ringditches marking the sites of Bronze Age round barrows. A later Prehistoric settlement was built within the larger henge. Centred on the largest roundhouse known in Wales, this settlement appears to have been occupied into the Roman period. In the early medieval period a small timber shrine or chapel was built over the cursus. This was the focus for a small inhumation cemetery.

A further cropmark complex has been recorded to the north-east (NPRN 404666). This includes a pair of early medieval type square ditched barrows. Excavations to the south have revealed evidence for Bronze Age land-use and a later-Prehistoric and Roman period settlement (NPRN 405440).

Source: Lynch & Musson in Archaeolgia Cambrensis 150 for 2001 (2004), 17-142

John Wiles 25.02.08