Barclodiad y Gawres

Barclodiad y Gawres (Welsh for "the giantess's apronful") is a Neolithic burial chamber between Rhosneigr and Aberffraw on the south-western 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.[1]

Barclodiad y Gawres
Burial chamber
Location of Barclodiad y Gowres, on the headland north of Cable Bay

Full excavations were performed in 1952–53, 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.[1][2]

During the excavations five stones with carvings—spirals, zig-zags, lozenges and chevrons—were discovered. A sixth stone with carvings was discovered in 2001.[3]

More or less equidistant from Aberffraw and Rhosneigr, it is on the north side of Porth Trecastell, 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).[4]

  • View from the entrance, surf in Cymyran Bay
  • View eastwards over Porth Trecastell cove from the side of Barclodiad y Gawres
  • The chamber; small adult for scale
  • Chevron marks on stone in chamber
  • Spiral mark on stone in chamber

See also

References
  1. Frances Lynch. A guide to ancient and historic Wales. Gwynedd. ISBN 0-11-701574-1. HMSO. pp 11-12
  2. Cadw sign at the site
  3. "Barclodiad y Gawres". Wondermondo.
  4. Cadw sign at the site. Access from 12 noon to 4pm "weekends and bank holidays from 1st April to 31st October"

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